Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has told Chairman of the Management Board of Russia’s Gazprom Neft Company A. Dyukov that Vietnam always backs cooperation between the firm and PetroVietnam for mutual benefit.

During a reception for Dyukov in Hanoi on November 14, the Government leader said he discussed bilateral oil and gas cooperation with his Russian counterpart Medvedev on the sidelines of the freshly-ended 25th ASEAN Summit in Myanmar, and the two sides have agreed to support ongoing and future joint projects of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Gazprom Neft.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung proposed that the two sides finalise documents on a governmental agreement on oil and gas cooperation projects, so that the deal can be signed during the upcoming Russia visit of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The PM expressed hope that Gazprom Neft will continue expanding its investment in Vietnam, especially in oil and gas exploration and exploitation, refinery and crude oil supply, contributing to enhancing economic, trade and investment partnership between the two countries.

On his part, Dyukov briefed his host on Gazprom Neft’s operations and outcomes of its collaboration with PetroVietnam.

He noted that along with its commitment to ensuring the supply of crude oil for the expanded Dung Quat Refinery, Gazprom Neft is working with PetroVietnam on another deal to exploit a new oil field in Russia with an estimated reserve of 140 million tonnes .

He held that with the underway and planned projects, the partnership between Gazprom Neft and PetroVietnam, as well as Vietnam and Russia in general, will bring long-term benefit for both sides.

VNA/VNN