During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to the State of Kuwait from November 16 to 18, 2025, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang accompanied the Prime Minister in several key activities.

Participating in high-level external affairs

Following the official welcome ceremony on November 17 at the Bayan Palace, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang joined the delegation’s programme of high-level external activities.

In the Prime Minister’s talks and meetings with Kuwait’s senior leaders, she participated as the representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the agency responsible for cooperation in trade, energy and industry. Discussions covered energy-oil and gas cooperation, goods trade, food security and various forms of industrial collaboration.

Working sessions on energy and oil-gas cooperation

Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang took part in Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s working sessions with Kuwait’s Oil Minister Tariq Suleiman Al-Roumi and the CEO of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). The two sides exchanged views on the operation of the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, measures to address existing challenges on the basis of harmonised interests and shared risks, plans for expanding the project’s operations, and further cooperation opportunities in the energy sector.

Key issues discussed included crude oil supply, the potential expansion of refining capacity, and new cooperation directions related to technical expertise and human resource training for the energy industry.

Visit to the Al-Zour Refinery Complex

As part of the working agenda, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang and the delegation visited the Al-Zour Refinery Complex, Kuwait’s largest oil refining facility. KPC leaders briefed the delegation on the complex’s technology and operations. The visit provided Vietnam with further insight into Kuwait’s refining capabilities and development orientations.

Meeting with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED)

During the delegation’s meeting with KFAED, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang participated in discussions on infrastructure projects supported by the Fund in Vietnam, as well as the potential expansion of cooperation in transport, agriculture and climate change response.

Her participation in the delegation enabled the MoIT to closely follow, assess and coordinate efforts related to economic-trade cooperation during the visit. Issues raised in Kuwait will be consolidated and coordinated by the MoIT with relevant agencies for follow-up actions after the trip.