Mr Dung welcomed the Minister’s visit to Vietnam and the results of his working sessions with leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group.

He expressed his belief that the Minister’s visit will help promote the friendship and comprehensive 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. He also extended an invitation to visit Vietnam to the King.

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

He added that the two sides will continue to work toward providing a proper mechanism for bilateral cooperation in specific areas.

Besides oil and gas, Saudi Arabia wants to increase cooperation with Vietnam in industry, agriculture, trade, construction and services, said Minister Al Naimi.