Vietnam hopes to cooperate with Saudi Arabia on the basis of equality and mutual interest, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told visiting Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Abrahim Al-Naimi Wednesday.

He also expressed his belief that the ministers’ meeting will help promote friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

The PM asked the minister to relay his proposal on the establishment of a cooperation committee between the two countries to King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud.

Saudi Minister Al Naimi briefed Dung on the outcome of his talks with Vietnamese leaders, saying the two sides agreed to set up a strategic alliance on oil and gas cooperation, with Saudi Arabia supplying crude oil to Vietnam in the first phase.

In addition to oil and gas, Saudi Arabia wants to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in agriculture, trade, construction and services, the minister said.

Al-Naimi on Wednesday also visited Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) to boost investment in oil, gas and minerals projects.

Tran Ngoc Canh, chief executive officer of PetroVietnam said his organization is seeking further support from Saudi authorities in oil and gas exploration projects in Saudi Arabia, specially the establishment of a joint venture firm with Saudi Aramco.

PetroVietnam is also looking for long-term contracts of crude oil, oil and gas products as well as cooperation with Saudi partners in refineries building in Vietnam, he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang also met with the Saudi minister to discuss cooperation in trade and investment between the two countries.

Source: VNA