Russia to help Vietnam build nuclear science center

In a press meet following dialogues with President To Lam, Putin said the peaceful development of nuclear energy is a promising field in the Vietnam-Russia bilateral relations.

"One of the topics in the parliamentary procedure is the construction of a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Vietnam, built by Russia's Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, as well as the training of Vietnamese nuclear experts at specialized Russian universities," Putin said.

At the event, Lam and Putin also witnessed the exchange of a memorandum between Rosatom general director Alexey Likhachev and Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat on the plan to construct the Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Vietnam.

The memorandum is one among 11 documents signed during Putin's state visit to Vietnam. Other signed documents have to do with university education cooperation, disease prevention, energy and petrol cooperation, among other topics.

Putin said Russia is willing to establish a direct and long-term supply on energy, including liquefied natural gas, for Vietnam.

"Consortiums between the two countries are operating effectively, mainly in the energy sector, specifically the Vietsopetro on the Vietnamese continental shelf, and the Rusvietpetro at the Nenets autonomous region," he said.

In an article published on the Nhan Dan newspaper ahead of the visit, Putin said energy is a strategically important sector in the Vietnam-Russia relations.

"I want to stress that Rosatom is always ready to support Vietnamese partners in the construction of the national nuclear energy sector, including personnel training," Putin said.

He also thanked the warm welcomes by the Vietnamese people and leaders for the Russian entourage.

"I and President To Lam have passed the Joint Declaration, supporting the principles of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. These are new directions for the cooperation of the two countries in the future. I would like to stress that Russia values its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam. This relationship would continue to develop, consistently, in the spirit of equality and mutual respect," he said.

President Vladimir Putin at a press meet following dialogues at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, June 20, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Lam said Vietnam is resolute with its external relations policies of independence, autonomy and multilateralism, and is a trusted partner and responsible member of the international community, for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the world.

Vietnam always remembers the support of the Soviet Union (in the past) and Russia, and that Russia is one of its priorities when it comes to external affair policies. Lam stressed that Vietnam wants to develop its traditional friendly relations with Russia that their leaders and people have built.

During the dialogues, both sides have had comprehensive exchanges on fields regarding bilateral cooperation and fields of mutual interests, for the sake of national development, peace and development cooperation in both the region and the world.

The two sides have agreed to effectively deploy, negotiate and heighten the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as resolving challenges due to the unfavorable impacts of the world economy, in order to boost bilateral commerce and investment.

The two countries agree to continue heightening the effectiveness of vital projects in the energy and petroleum sectors, creating opportunities for businesses to expand investments and operate on each other’s territories, in accordance with the laws of the two countries and international law.

Vietnam and Russia also agree to boost security and defense cooperation, as well as responses to non-traditional security challenges, on the basis of the law and international practices, contributing to peace and security in the region and the world.

The two countries also support building an international relations system that is democratic, fair and transparent, based on international law and the U.N. Charter.

Vietnam and Russia also support an Asia-Pacific regional structure that is equal and undivided, based on international law, as well as boosting economic connections, such as the APEC, G20, the Asia-Europe economic cooperation. Russia cooperating with the Mekong sub-region is also commended, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the world.

On the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, both sides support ensuring safety, security and maritime freedom, as well as not using or delivering threats of using force, and resolving conflicts with appropriate peaceful measures in accordance with the U.N. Charter and international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also support the full conduct of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), as well as negotiations for a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), in accordance with international law.

Putin’s state visit to Vietnam this time is considered to be a symbolic event, as the two countries commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the signing of the agreement on the fundamental principles of the friendly relationship between Vietnam and Russia.

Lam on Thursday afternoon helmed the official reception ceremony for Putin at Hanoi’s Presidential Palace. Putin was expected to meet with high-ranking Vietnamese leaders in the afternoon, among attending other acitivities.