Don't forget Party building, culture PetroVietnam told

HA NOI — Economic development must go hand-in-hand with party building and cultural development, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh reminded PetroVietnam's Party Congress yesterday.

And "socio-economic development must consolidate national defence and security," he said.

The General Secretary, who said he wanted PetroVietnam to become a strong regional economic entity, asked that all party members in the oil-and- gas industry follow President Ho Chi Minh's moral example and become a role model for others.

"Your trade mark and profile are highly appreciated inside and outside Viet Nam," he said.

"PetroVietnam has been a driver of the country's industrialisation and modernisation.

"You have helped regulate the country's macro economy to ensure both social and energy security and firmly defend the homeland's sovereignty of the sea."

The general secretary said oil and gas were valuable non-renewable natural resource that played a significant role in any country's strategy for energy security, including Viet Nam.

Both the Party and Government had closely followed the oil-and-gas industry's extraction activities and given it high priority.

The PetroVietnam Party Committee should continue to hold high its role in the country's economic development while consolidating the Party's unity and strength, he said.

In response, the Congress pledged to make their committee strong in politics, ideology and organisation.

PetroVietnam has set a yearly growth target of 18-20 per cent and agreed that skilled personnel, science and technology and management are the key to reaching it.

The State-owned corporation's revenue has increased at a yearly average of 20 per cent for the past five years.

PetroVietnam has successfully built an oil-and-gas enterprise ranging from exploration to exploitation, transport, processing, storage, distribution, services and import and export.

The corporation has introduced five new products to serve the national economy during the past five years - electricity from gas, petrol and diesel, polypropylene grains, high pressure gas and clean energy. — VNS