Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom in Ha Noi yesterday. — Photo VNA

Viet Nam News -HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese Government supports Russia’s Gazprom in expanding oil and gas production in Việt Nam, asserted Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at his reception for Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom in Hà Nội yesterday.

He hailed the group’s investment and operation in Việt Nam, in particular its cooperation with the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), noting that energy cooperation is one of the crucial pillars shaping the Việt Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

He noted his hope for broader energy cooperation with Russia for more practical outcomes, urging both sides to speed up signed cooperative projects, especially those in exploring and exploiting oil and gas.

The PM also encouraged Gazprom to study the production of environmentally-friendly gas for vehicles, while asking it to back cooperative operations of Vietnamese oil and gas companies in Russia.

Alexey Miller told his host that Gazprom and PetroVietnam were maintaining their focus on oil and gas production in both Việt Nam and Russia as part of their established cooperation.

He said both would sign a memorandum of understanding with a view to bringing their cooperation to the next level.

In addition to that, the two sides would also ink a document on partnership in power production in Việt Nam, as Gazprom was very keen to expand in this field, he added.

The same day, the Gazprom executive was received by President Trần Đại Quang who pledged the best possible conditions for the group’s operation in Việt Nam, as well as effective cooperation in energy with Việt Nam.

The President reiterated that Việt Nam gave high priority to Russia in its external policy and advocated deepening its comprehensive strategic partnership with the country.

He thanked the Russian Government for helping PetroVietnam to realise its oil and gas production projects in Russia.

The President spoke highly of Gazprom’s partnership in researching, producing and distributing environmentally-friendly liquefied gas.

Alexey Miller assured the President that Gazprom paid heed to Vietnamese oil and gas companies in its development strategy, seeing PetroVietnam as its strategic partner.

Gazprom had established a strong human resource training partnership with its Vietnamese partners, he said.

Gazprom has partnered with PetroVietnam in Vietgazprom and Gazpromviet joint ventures, and wants the Vietnamese partner to join in oil and gas production in Russia’s Orenburg.

The two groups are considering expanding cooperation in power production and usage of gas tapped from Việt Nam’s continental shelf and imported from Russia. — VNS