At a press briefing in Washington DC on April 13, Mr Phong said Vietnam is finalising its legal and management system for controlling and improving safety and security when using nuclear and radioactive materials.

He said that Vietnam’s efforts to develop and apply nuclear energy for peaceful purposes have been acknowledged by the international community, which sees Vietnam as a nation that develops and uses nuclear energy responsibly.

He said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung was chosen as one of the first heads of state or government to deliver a speech at a plenary session of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC on April 13. Mr Dung proposed that nuclear powers step up the technical and training assistance they provide to developing nations and share their managerial experience in developing and applying nuclear energy in a safe, secure and efficient manner.

The PM also stressed the need to improve the capacity building of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and set up a consultation mechanism amongst nations to make international cooperation more effective.

Vietnam’s actions to develop and apply atomic energy have practically contributed to the international community’s joint efforts to strengthen security and combat nuclear terrorism, while the country backs disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, said Mr Phong.

According to the Minister, the PM approved a strategy for applying atomic energy for peaceful purposes until 2020 in 2006 and a master plan to implement it in 2007. The Vietnam National Assembly passed the Law on Atomic Energy in 2008, which came into effect in 2009.

Vietnam has joined 13 out of 16 international treaties, agreements, resolutions and initiatives on energy security and anti-nuclear terrorism measures. It has signed 6 cooperation agreements on using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes with Russia, China, France, India, the Republic of Korea and Argentina. The latest memorandum of understanding on the issue was signed between Vietnam and the US on March 30, 2010.

Vietnam has joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training in Nuclear Science and Technology for the Asia and Pacific region (RCA) and the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA).