Friday at the National Palace, President Michel Martelly, received the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung, as part of an official visit to the country on 28 and 29 March 2014.

The Head of State, accompanied, among others, of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, met with Vietnamese Prime Minister, presiding over a delegation of Ministers and investors. The discussions focused on the need to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries which maintained diplomatic relations since 1997.

The Head of State expressed the hope of a genuine Haiti-Vietnam partnership in areas such as agriculture, tourism, energy and culture. The Head of State stressed the real potential that Haiti can offer in terms of wealth. He also said that the country was willing to welcome Vietnamese investments, including in Caracol Industrial Park in the north.

Vietnamese authorities have promised to help Haiti in the production of rice, coffee, bananas, cotton, sugar, etc.. Vietnam is also prepared to assist Haiti in the areas of Energy, Textile, Construction, Tourism, Health, Technology and Defence.

Moreover, the same day at the Primature, Prime Minister Lamothe and his Vietnamese counterpart, had an important business meeting, to explore new areas including: construction, energy, trade, oil exploration, agriculture.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung confirmed that Vietnam will provide technical support to Haiti in the rice sector to support the efforts of the Haitian government in its fight against hunger and extreme poverty and promised for this purpose to provide Haiti, at a preferential price, 200,000 tons of rice to combat the high cost of living.

Both men have also pleaded for approximation between the two peoples. To this end, Prime Minister Lamothe suggested to his Vietnamese counterpart to open an Embassy in Haiti to facilitate exchanges between businessmen and businesswomen of both countries, a proposal welcomed by Vietnamese Prime Minister.

At the end of the meeting, the two statesmen have signed a joint statement committing both countries to work together: to strengthen ties of friendship continue and expand cooperation between the two countries, implementing a protocol agreement on cooperation in energy, promote the development of partnership in agriculture, telecommunications, energy, trade, industry, and others, to identify and implement joint actions to strengthen and facilitate actions cultural and share views and support each other.

It was also agreed to the formation of a Joint Monitoring Committee that will facilitate the implementation of decisions taken in the framework of the working day.

Nguyen Tan Dung visited later the Museum of Haitian National Pantheon where he laid a floral tribute to the memory of the Heroes of the Fatherland and thanked the Haitian authorities and the population for the warm welcome to the delegation, rejoicing of progress in Haiti in various fields.

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