<div>State oil group Petrovietnam and the overseas unit of state explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp have signed a memorandum on joint exploration of crude oil, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday.<br /><br />The exploration pact between Petrovietnam and ONGC Videsh Ltd would allow activities in Vietnam, India as well as in a third country.<br /><br />Vietnam's Industry and Trade Ministry also signed a memorandum with Tata Power Company Ltd on the construction of a $1.8 billion thermal power plant in Vietnam's southern province of Soc Trang, the agency said.<br /><br />The pacts were signed on 20 November during a visit to India by Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the report said.<br /><br />(Reuters)</div>