Vietnam: trustworthy friend and partner of Haiti

Located in the Caribbean region, Haiti suffers terrible natural disasters, particularly the magnitude 7 earthquakes on January 12, 2010 which devastated over 80% of the country's infrastructure and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

Due to geographical distance and small Haitian market, the bilateral trade relation between Vietnam and Haiti is still modest. Haiti intends to develop its industrial and processing zones and calls on Vietnamese enterprises to invest in these zones as Haiti is entitled to enjoy preferential tariff when exporting goods to the US.

The Vietnamese leader and his delegation were warmly welcomed by Haitian PM Laurent Salvador Lamothe, President Michel Martelly and other senior officials. The Vietnamese PM's visit to Haiti also attracted much attention from the local new agencies and newspapers.

At the meeting with Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung, Haitian President Michel Martelly expressed his delight to receive the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.

He said that the success of telecom model NATCOM - a joint venture between Vietnam's military telecom group Viettel and the Haitian central bank has created good conditions for the two countries to get closer. Thus, he added, the two sides should further co-operation to duplicate the model in other areas such as energy and tourism sectors.

The Haitian President appreciated the Vietnamese Government for facilitating the rice purchasing between the two countries, under which Vietnamese rice is sold to Haiti at a reasonable price that helps poor Haitian people afford to buy food.

He emphasised that Haiti is always keen on boosting co-operation with other countries for mutual benefits of all people. The Haitian leader wishes Vietnam to share its valuable experiences in agricultural development and power sector with Haiti to help the country ensure its food security and socio-economic development. He also suggested Vietnam export pharmaceuticals to Haiti and invest in other key industry sectors in the country.

The Vietnamese PM agreed with proposals from the Haiti side and affirmed that Vietnamese people will never forget the Haiti's support for the country's struggle for national liberation and freedom. Such sentiments are the solid foundation for the bilateral relationship to thrive in the future. PM Dung noted that Vietnam will consider the opening of an embassy's office in Haiti.

The Haitian President was touched when talking with PM Dung about NATCOM, the pride of both countries. He said, thank to NATCOM telecommunications network, Haitian Government could timely and directly send directions to localities to overcome consequences of ravaged storms while other networks were paralysed. NATCOME has made Haiti become the first country in the Caribbean region to own the largest and most modern fiber optic cable network of over 5,000 kilometres.

Haiti still has to face with lots of difficulties and challenges in its ongoing process to restore its infrastructure after the earthquake disaster in 2010. However, Haitian people remain optimistic, resilient and confident in the future. The Haitian President told PM Dung that Haiti has huge potential for development including its long coastline, beautiful islands, and long-standing cultural tradition among others which are ideal for tourism development. Therefore, Vietnam should co-ordinate with Haiti to define the most effective co-operation model to bring about benefits for both sides, the Haitian President said.

"...The tradition of heroic history is the source of extraordinary strength of Haitian country and people to overcome disasters, construct and develop the country. Vietnam shares the deep sympathy with the country's noble values and will be a trustworthy friend and partner for the development of Haiti", wrote PM Nguyen Tan Dung at the commemorative site for National Heroes and National Museum of Haiti.

(Source: Nhandan Newspaper Online)