PetroVietnam has expressed its desire to work more closely with Saudi Aramco, with a number of upstream and downstream projects in the pipeline.

Tran Ngoc Canh, PetroVietnam director general, said that the company is looking to secure training that will allow it to run refineries in the country as part of a joint operation with Saudi Aramco.

"We hope to get the opportunity to take part in exploring and exploiting oil and gas in Saudi Arabia, especially with the establishment of a joint venture with Saudi Aramco," he added.

His comments came after a visit from Saudi oil minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, who met with Vietnamese prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi on Wednesday (June 10th).

Al-Naimi said he was also keen to strengthen ties beyond the petroleum sector, with new cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing and services.

Saudi Arabia has the largest oil reserves in the world and it has just achieved its highest output capacity on record after bringing the vast Khurais field on stream.

Global Education and Training event for Oil and Gas: Refining and Petrochemicals