Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng Meets with Rosatom Director General in Russia

On June 17th, during his participation in the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit for the 35th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan (Russia), Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng held a meeting with Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, Russia's state atomic energy corporation. The meeting took place in a friendly and cooperative atmosphere, opening new prospects for bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in the nuclear energy sector.

Background of the Visit and Significance of the Summit

Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng's visit occurs at a crucial moment when Vietnam and Russia are commemorating 35 years of diplomatic relations (1992-2022). The ASEAN-Russia Summit in Kazan provided an important platform for leaders from both sides to exchange views on multilateral and bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including energy, high technology, and the digital economy.

The city of Kazan, capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, was selected as the summit venue not only for its strategic geographical location but also because it is a leading center for technology and education in Russia, with significant achievements in the fields of nuclear energy and high technology.

Meeting Details and Discussion Points

During the meeting, Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng highly valued the contributions of Rosatom in promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, particularly in the nuclear energy sector. The Prime Minister expressed interest in current and potential cooperation projects in this field, emphasizing the importance of clean energy for Vietnam's sustainable development.

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, thanked the Vietnamese side for their warm reception and reaffirmed the corporation's commitment to continuing cooperation with Vietnam in nuclear energy projects. He also reported on the progress of current projects and proposed expanding cooperation into new areas such as workforce training, scientific research, and the development of new-generation reactor technologies.

Rosatom: A Strategic Partner in the Nuclear Energy Sector

Established in 2007, Rosatom is Russia's largest state-owned corporation and one of the world's largest nuclear energy producers. With over 300 enterprises and organizations, Rosatom operates across the entire nuclear industry value chain, from uranium mining to nuclear fuel production, nuclear power plant construction, radioactive waste management, and scientific research.

Currently, Rosatom operates 31 nuclear reactors in Russia and 34 nuclear reactors in 14 other countries. The corporation is also the world's largest supplier of nuclear fuel, accounting for approximately 17% of the global market share.

Vietnam-Russia Cooperation in the Nuclear Energy Sector

Vietnam and Russia have a long-standing and robust tradition of cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. The most prominent project is the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plants 1 and 2, signed in 2016 with total investment estimated at approximately $10 billion. However, the project was temporarily suspended in 2016 due to changes in Vietnam's energy policy.

Beyond nuclear power plant projects, the two countries have cooperated in workforce training, scientific research, and the application of nuclear technology in medicine, agriculture, and industry. Many Vietnamese experts have been trained at Rosatom's educational institutions, and numerous medical devices using Russian nuclear technology have been deployed in Vietnam.

Future Cooperation Prospects

During the meeting, both sides discussed several potential areas for future cooperation:

• Developing nuclear energy projects to serve Vietnam's sustainable development goals
• Cooperation in training high-quality human resources for the nuclear energy sector
• Technology transfer of new-generation reactors with high safety standards
• Application of nuclear technology in medicine, agriculture, and industry
• Cooperation in research and development in the nuclear energy field

Prime Minister Lê Minh Hũng also emphasized Vietnam's commitment to complying with the highest international standards on safety and security in the nuclear energy sector, while affirming that Vietnam always welcomes and creates favorable conditions for Russian investors, particularly Rosatom, to cooperate with Vietnam.

Strategic Importance of Vietnam-Russia Bilateral Relations

Cooperation in the nuclear energy sector is an important component of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia. The two countries share a long-standing relationship built on mutual respect, trust, and mutual benefit.

Nuclear energy cooperation is not only an economic partnership but also holds strategic significance, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's industrial and scientific-technical capabilities. Cooperation with Rosatom, a world leader in nuclear energy, will help Vietnam access advanced technology, enhance self-reliance, and achieve sustainable development.

Conclusion

The meeting between Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev affirmed the strategic direction of cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in the nuclear energy sector. With its experience and advanced technology, Rosatom can become an important partner for Vietnam in developing clean, sustainable energy sources, contributing to Vietnam's socio-economic development goals.

Nuclear energy cooperation not only brings economic benefits but also demonstrates the deep trust and cooperation between the two countries. In the context of the world facing challenges from climate change and increasing energy demand, nuclear energy is considered one of the important solutions to ensure energy security and sustainable development.

Strengthening and expanding cooperation with Rosatom will open up new opportunities for Vietnam to access advanced energy technologies, enhance self-reliance, and contribute to the global clean energy transition.