Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

A senior official of SOCAR-AQS LLC, an integrated drilling and well services management company in Azerbaijan, has visited Vietnam.

Deputy General Director of SOCAR-AQS for Safety Issues Tofig Mahammadov attended a number of official meetings as a member of Azerbaijan's state delegation within the framework of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Vietnam on May 18.

Mahammadov said Vietnam and Azerbaijan have more than a half-century experience of friendly relationships.

"Azerbaijanis, especially oilmen, had provided a great, disinterested and effective help to Vietnam back in the Soviet times. After Ho Shi Min's visit to Baku in 1959, Azerbaijan trained and developed thousands of research workers, especially, highly-qualified specialists in oil and energy sector for Vietnam," he said.

Mahammadov also spoke about the great role of Azerbaijani geologists and oilmen in the discovery of White Tiger and Dragon oil fields in Vietnam.

Mahammadov was awarded with 'Friendship' and 'Labor' medals of Vietnam for the training of professional employees and development of training materials for young oilmen.

He is strongly confident that the relationships between the two countries in economy, politics, social and humanitarian areas will continue to develop in the future.

SOCAR-AQS LLC was established between SOCAR and Absheron Drilling Company in 2007. The main scope of the company's activities is the provision of work and services related to drilling oil and gas wells.

Azerbaijani-Vietnam cooperation is fast developing. Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Vietnam last December, while the Azerbaijan-Vietnam inter-parliamentary friendship group was established in Hanoi in November 2013. The group includes six members of Vietnam's National Assembly.

In October 2013, Vietnam simplified the visa regime for Azerbaijani citizens, making it possible for Azerbaijani citizens to obtain a visa upon arrival at Vietnam's airports.