Azerbaijan received a Vietnamese delegation led by deputy prime minister Hoang Trung Hai, paving the way for greater cooperation between the two countries' state oil and gas firms, PetroVietnam and SOCAR.

Vietnam News reports that Hai called for increased production in both countries, while also reaching a memorandum of understanding to support oil and gas training partnerships between PetroVietnam and Azerbaijan's Baku Oil and Gas Institute.

The memorandum builds upon statements made late last week by Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev at the beginning of Mr Hai's visit. Mr Aliyev urged a new period of trade expansion across many sectors, including knowledge sharing and training cooperation.

Over the weekend, Hai conceded that to date, both countries have failed to maximise benefits from their favourable trading relationship.

Azerbaijan's prime minister Artur Rasizade agreed that both countries would benefit from expanded diplomatic and economic ties and in pursuance of this, he recommended the establishment of a new bilateral inter-governmental economic co-operation committee.

Getenergy for Russia & CIS, 19th – 20th May 2010 - Moscow