Atomic energy agency leader promises technology transfer to Vietnam
Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 20:42 GMT+7
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue to enhance its cooperation with Vietnam and transfer technology to the Southeast Asian nation, IAEA acting director general Najat Mokhtar said at a meeting on Monday with Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong, who is in Austria for a state visit.
Mokhtar added that the IAEA was impressed by Vietnam's positive contributions to its activities serving atomic energy applications for peaceful purposes.
She affirmed that Vietnam has outstandingly performed its role as a member of the IAEA's board of governors in the 2021-23 tenure, adding that the cooperation with the country is an efficient and successful model.
Mokhtar wished that the Southeast Asian country would continue contributing to the agency’s efforts in tackling common international issues, including nuclear security and safety, prevention of proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear technology development for peace, and responde to non-traditional security challenges.
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| Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (C) poses for a photo with acting director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency Najat Mokhtar (L, 2nd) and leaders of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Austria, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization on July 24, 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
State President Thuong expressed his gratitude to the IAEA for providing medical equipment and transferring COVID-19 testing technology to Vietnam.
He asserted that Vietnam would actively take part in and carry out technical cooperation projects initiated by the IAEA under a program for the two sides' cooperation in the development of atomic energy applications in 2022-27.
The Vietnamese state leader thanked the IAEA for supporting Vietnam in getting involved in the trilateral cooperation project between Vietnam, the IAEA, and Laos/Cambodia to help develop and apply atomic energy for peaceful purposes in the two neighboring countries.
He proposed the IAEA increase technical cooperation projects for the Asia-Pacific region so that Vietnam can participate in specific ones to enhance its human resource training and technology transfer.
State President Thuong also suggested the IAEA boost the cooperation with Vietnam in international programs, share experience, and provide technical support for the Southeast Asian country to strengthen its capability in nuclear security and safety.
The IAEA is supporting Vietnam in implementing projects within the framework of its technical cooperation program, such as those on addressing diseases stemming from animals and ocean plastic waste.
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| Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (L) shakes hands with President of the Federal Council of Austria Claudia Arpa. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
On the same day, State President Thuong also met with President of the Federal Council of Austria Claudia Arpa, who hailed Vietnam’s active and responsible role at global and regional inter-parliamentary forums.
She expressed her wish that Vietnam would serve as a bridge to boost ties between the Austrian Parliament and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
The Vietnamese state leader threw his support behind Arpa’s proposal, expecting the two sides to continue cooperating closely and supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organizations for the sake of peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Arpa accepted Vietnam’s invitation to send a delegation to the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Vietnam in September.
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| Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) shakes hands with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Accompanying State President Thuong to Austria, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on Monday met with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg.
Schallenberg affirmed that Austria would soon ratify the European Union-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, which will foster the economic and investment relations between the two countries.
The two sides had earlier inked a memorandum of understanding, witnessed by State President Thuong and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.
On the occasion, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang had a working session with Anna Joubin-Bret, secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
They concluded a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNCITRAL secretariat in technical support.
State President Thuong’s visit to Austria is his first official visit to an EU nation and the first to the European country by a Vietnamese state president in the past 15 years.
After the trip to Austria, he will pay a visit to Italy and another to the Vatican.
The visits are taking place from Sunday to Friday this week.
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