Oil & gas cooperation key to Vietnam – Russia ties: officials

Moscow, September 9 - Neftegaz.RU. Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng and his Russian counterpart Maxim Akimov agreed that oil and gas cooperation bears strategic significance to Vietnam – Russia relations at their meeting on the sidelines of the 5th Eastern Economic Forum.

The 2 officials took the occasion to exchange their opinions on the implementation of the 2 countries’ joint projects and agreements. They shared the view that bilateral cooperation is going smoothly across all fields and highlighted the need for effective measures to capitalise on the potential of both countries and of the Eurasian Economic Union – Vietnam free trade Agreement toward realising the $10 billion bilateral trade goal in 2020.

Dũng affirmed that Vietnam welcomes Russia’s oil and gas companies to carry out exploration and exploitation activities in the country’s continental shelf in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He asked the Russian Government to facilitate Vietnamese joint ventures’ involvement in new oilfields in Russia’s territory. They agreed to hold the 22nd meeting of the Vietnam – Russia Intergovernmental Committee in early October this year.