8-21-08, 9:55 am

Buenos Aires (VNA) – The first session of the Vietnam-Venezuela joint committee opened in Caracas , Venezuela , on Aug. 20.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.

The Venezuelan delegation included Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, Minister of Energy and Petroleum Rafael Ramirez, Minister of Light Industries and Commerce William Contreras and Minister of Basic Industries and Mines Rodolfo Sanz.

The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in construction of oil refinery factories in Vietnam , Vietnamese oil exploitation projects in Venezueala and the establishment of a common fund to promote bilateral cooperation in science and technology, economics, finance, commerce, industry, agriculture and culture.

They also considered the implementation of a memorandum of understanding on establishment of a joint venture to produce electricity-saving light bulbs.

The two sides agreed on Vietnam’s supply and installation of public lighting systems in Venezuela , and information exchange between the Vietnamese national radio the Voice of Vietnam and the National Radio of Venezuela (RNV).

The first session of the joint committee is an outcome of the Venezuela visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh last year. During the visit, the two sides inked a series of documents on bilateral cooperation.

From Vietnam News Agency