President Nguyen Minh Triet and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ibrahim Al Naimi of Saudi Arabia both said bilateral co-operation should be based on each other’s strengths such as Vietnam’s agriculture and the Middle-East country’s energy.

President Triet on June 11 welcomed the Saudi Arabian minister’s working visit, saying it was a spring-board for the two countries to usher in a new stage of bilateral ties.

“Ministries and industries from the two countries should increase the exchange of visits so as to work out concrete programmes of co-operation,” said the State leader, emphasizing on energy, mining and agriculture.

“Vietnam respects Saudi Arabia’s position in the Middle-East and looks forwards to developing friendship and comprehensive co-operation with the country,” Triet concluded.

His view was shared by the Saudi Arabian Minister, who said his country was rich in energy and minerals while Vietnam had potential in labour forces and agriculture so the two countries could supplement each other through their co-operation.

Minister Naimi said that he was satisfied with the results of his working sessions with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the National Oil and Gas Group of Vietnam (PetroVietnam), saying the two parties had got some ideas on models of bilateral co-operation from these meetings. (VNA)