PM Dung, on an official visit to the country, congratulated the Haitian Government and people on their achievements in maintaining socio-economic stability, boosting economic integration and overcoming the devastating consequences of an earthquake that hit the country in January 2010.

He also hailed the outcomes of the “Five E” Plan (employment, état de droit (rule of law), education, environment and energy) initiated by President Martelly in 2011.

“The Vietnamese people will never forget the valuable support from Haiti to our past struggle for national independence and freedom,” he told his host.

The two leaders expressed belief that the sound relationship between their nations will provide a strong grounding for advancing bilateral cooperation.

They noted with pleasure that Viet Nam-Haiti relations have seen positive developments, especially since Haitian PM Laurent Salvador Lamothe’s official visit to Viet Nam in December 2012.

The upturn was also demonstrated by the Haitian government’s opening of an embassy in Ha Noi in 2013, the signing of a framework agreement on bilateral trade and investment, and enhanced cooperation in telecommunication and food security.

Both host and guest emphasised the need to develop economic and cultural cooperation on par with each side’s potential.

President Martelly said he hopes that through Dung’s visit to Haiti , the first by a Vietnamese leader, both sides will reach a consensus on measures to expand collaboration in agriculture, energy, infrastructure development and expert exchange.

The leaders also agreed that the two countries should promote consultation and coordination on regional and international issues, while working closely with each other at multilateral forums to jointly navigate the ever changing global geopolitical situation.

PM Dung conveyed President Truong Tan Sang’s invitation to President Martelly to visit Viet Nam and the President accepted it.

The same day, PM Dung and National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with President of the Haitan Senate Simon Dieuseul Desras and President of the House of Representatives Jacques Stevenson Thimoleon.

The Haitian legislators said the visit will open up a new chapter in relations between the two nations.

They spoke highly of Vietnamese NA leaders’ participation in the visit, saying that it shows the two countries’ appreciation of the role of the legislative bodies in fostering bilateral friendship and cooperation.

The two sides expressed satisfaction with the recently growing economic links, demonstrated by food security cooperation and the efficient telecom model of NATCOM – a joint venture between Viet Nam’s military telecom group Viettel and the Haitian government.

PM Dung said his visit aims to expand Viet Nam-Haiti relations in trade and perfect a legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

On the occasion, he conveyed NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s invitation to the Haitian legislators to attend the 132 nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliament Union (IPU-132) scheduled for March 2015 in Viet Nam.

Later the same day, PM Dung and his entourage laid a wreath at the monument to Haitian heroes and visited NATCOM headquarters.