Party leader visits Zarubezhneft group

Co-operation in energy, oil and gas plays an important role in bilateral relations between Vietnam and Russia.

During a visit to Russia, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh visited the Zarubezhneft Group, a partner of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) on July 11.

Mr Manh gave his impression of the Zarubezhneft Group’s achievements and contribution to the Russia’s economy. He recalled that 50 years ago, during a visit to the former Soviet Union, late President Ho Chi Minh asked the USSR to support Vietnam’s oil and gas industry. Based on the Vietnam-Soviet Union inter-governmental agreement in 1981, the Vietsovpetro Joint Venture Enterprise was established - a symbol of the close relationship between the two countries. Today, Petrovietnam and Zarubezhneft are carrying out several projects in Russia and other countries in addition to projects in Vietnam. Mr Manh said that this is an important milestone that should encourage both sides to implement more projects in Russia and in third countries.

Mr Manh witnessed the signing of agreements between Petrovietnam and Zarubezhneft on transforming the Vietsovpetro into a new enterprise, exploiting the oilfield in Nenevski in the third quarter of this year, and continuing to explore and exploit oil and gas in Vietnam’s continental shelf, in Russia and in third countries.

Mr Manh left Moscow for St.Petersburg later the same day.