Vietnam-Haiti Joint Communique

Joint Statement of the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti.

1. At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti Laurent Lamothe and a high-ranking delegation of the Republic of Haiti paid an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from December 16 to 19, 2012. This was Haiti's first official high-level visit to Vietnam, of historic significance to bilateral relations in the context of the two countries celebrating the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (September 26, 1997 - September 26, 2012).

2. The official welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Laurent S Lamothe was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace, Hanoi on December 17, 2012. During the visit, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe held official talks and attended a solemn reception hosted by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung, visited President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, worked with leaders of the Military Telecommunications Group, and visited a number of economic and cultural establishments in Hanoi.

3. The bilateral talks took place in an atmosphere of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding. The two sides informed each other about the political and economic situation in each country. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe praised the heroic struggle for independence, freedom and national reunification of the Vietnamese people as well as Vietnam's great achievements in the Doi Moi process. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highly appreciated the achievements of the Government and people of Haiti in maintaining political stability, socio-economic development, overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and expanding foreign relations.

4. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations over the past 15 years and agreed to increase the exchange of high-level visits to further consolidate the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. In that spirit, the Prime Minister of Haiti invited Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to pay an official visit to Haiti at a convenient time. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung happily accepted the invitation. The time of the visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels.

5. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed their determination to strengthen and further deepen the Vietnam - Haiti cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields, practically serving the development of each country; agreed on directions and measures to strengthen the cooperation in the coming time:

(i) The two leaders emphasized areas of cooperation in which the two countries have complementary strengths such as trade, telecommunications, agriculture and construction. The two sides also agreed to enhance experience exchange and cooperation in the fields of science and technology, education, health, food security, hunger eradication and poverty reduction through the exchange of experts and technicians, technology transfer, building joint cooperation programs, etc., and maximizing the South-South and Tripartite cooperation mechanisms.

(ii) Vietnam highly appreciates the efforts of the Haitian government in implementing the food security strategy and is ready to support and cooperate with Haiti in this field, in accordance with its conditions and capabilities. A cooperation agreement in this field will be considered for signing by the two governments as soon as possible.

(iii) The two sides agreed to promote the establishment of favorable legal mechanisms and frameworks to promote multi-faceted cooperation. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to initiate negotiations to sign a Framework Agreement on Cooperation, an Agreement on Visa Exemption for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders, an Agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection, an Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation, and an Agreement on Cooperation on Culture, Sports and Tourism.

(iv) The two sides pledged to encourage and facilitate Vietnamese enterprises operating in Haiti and Haitian enterprises operating in Vietnam on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and in accordance with the laws of each country. The two leaders highly appreciated the operation of the NATCOM Joint Venture between the Vietnam Military Telecommunications Group (Viettel) and the Haitian Ministry of Economy and Finance, considering this a model that needs to be promoted and expanded to other areas of cooperation. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe expressed their delight at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Strategic Investment Partnership between the Vietnam Military Telecommunications Group and the Government of Haiti during the visit.

(v) Appreciating the efforts of the Vietnamese Government in developing market mechanisms through implementing reform and open-door policies over the past 25 years, the Government of Haiti has recognized the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as a country with a full market economy.

6. The two sides agreed to strengthen consultation and close cooperation between the two countries at international forums and organizations of which both countries are members. In that spirit, Haiti supports Vietnam's candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term, the United Nations Economic and Social Council for the 2016-2018 term, and as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. Vietnam supports Haiti's candidacy for the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for the 2013-2016 term, and supports Haiti, together with the Group of Least Developed Countries, to promote a strong role within the framework of the G77 and other international organizations. The two countries will continue to actively consider supporting each other's candidacy for important United Nations agencies.

7. The two leaders also discussed a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern. Regarding the situation in the East Sea, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe supported the determination of regional countries to maintain a peaceful and stable environment and resolve disputes in the East Sea through peaceful negotiations, on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highly appreciated Haiti's regional integration policy, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in Latin America and the Caribbean; and wished the Haitian Government success in hosting the Summit of the Association of Caribbean States to be held in Haiti in April 2013.

8. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the positive results of the official visit to Vietnam by Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, considering this a fine demonstration of the growing relationship between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Haiti. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe thanked the Government and people of Vietnam for the warm welcome given to the Prime Minister and the Haitian Government Delegation during their official visit to Vietnam.

Signed in Hanoi, Vietnam, on December 17, 2012, in two originals, each in Vietnamese and French, all texts being equally authentic./.

According to (vov.vn) - LT