12 May 2025

Vietnam, Russia agree to quickly sign nuclear power plant deal

4:40 pm on 12 May 2025
In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (Photo by Gavriil GRIGOROV / POOL / AFP) / ***EDITOR'S NOTE : THIS IMAGE IS DISTRIBUTED BY THE RUSSIAN STATE OWNED AGENCY SPUTNIK***

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm in Moscow on 10 May 2025. File photo. Photo: Gavriil Grigorov / AFP

Vietnam and Russia have agreed to quickly negotiate and sign agreements on building nuclear power plants in Vietnam, the two countries said in a joint statement.

"The development of the plants with advanced technology will strictly be compliant with nuclear and radiation safety regulations and for the benefit of socio-economic development," they said in the statement, which was dated Sunday (local time) and followed a visit to Moscow by Vietnamese leader To Lam.

The Southeast Asian nation has restarted plans to develop nuclear power plants that were suspended nearly a decade ago, as part of its efforts to ramp up its power generation capacity to support its fast-growing economy.

The government has previously said it expected the first nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of up to 6.4 gigawatts to be online between 2030 and 2035.

The government said earlier this year it would hold talks with foreign partners about nuclear power projects, including Russia, Japan, South Korea, France and the United States.

Vietnam and Russia have also agreed to boost cooperation in oil and gas industries, including the provision of Russian crude oil and liquefied natural gas to Vietnam, according to the joint statement.

It said Russia and Vietnam will also facilitate the expansion of their energy companies in each other's territories.

- Reuters

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs