At a meeting with a senior Vietnamese official, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano pledged more support to the country’s nuclear power development. During his talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on January 9, the IAEA leader also highly valued Vietnam’s preparations for nuclear power development. The IAEA head also praised Vietnam for its achievements in the application of nuclear power for peaceful purposes as well as in international integration.  Yukiya Amano also said that Vietnam is an important partner of the IAEA and the international community, especially in its capacity as President of the IAEA’s Boards of Governors. In reply, Deputy Prime Minister Minh also highlighted the fruitful cooperation between Vietnam and the IAEA, especially the agency’s effective assistance to the country in the application of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. He also commented on the agency’s support in healthcare, construction, agriculture and industry, calling for more assistance in the time to come.

As President of the IAEA’s Boards of Governors for the 2013-2014 tenure, Vietnam will continue contributing to joint efforts in disarmament, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and ensuring nuclear safety and security, the deputy PM said. Meanwhile, the IAEA leader pledged that the agency will do everything necessary to help Vietnam successfully implement its nuclear power plant project in Ninh Thuan province. IAEA will send working groups to Vietnam to assist the country in nuclear infrastructure and safety issues, Yukiya said. The IAEA leader said he will arrive in Ninh Thuan today, January 10 to visit the location where Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant will be built. He also said he will have a meeting with the project management board and the provincial authorities.