At the 2nd Nuclear Security Summit, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng stressed that consitently pursuing the policy of using nuclear power for peaceful purposes only, Vietnam has been actively realizing its commitments regarding nuclear energy use.
The summit took place in Seoul, the Republic of Korea from March 26-27. PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng led the Vietnamese delegation to the summit. The summit was held amid complicated changes relating to nuclear safety and security, including the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, which has caused an international concern about nuclear safety and security, even the reconsideration of using nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
The summit of international political importance was attended by senior leaders of 53 countries, including nuclear powers and those that have many nuclear applications in all continents and 4 international organizations (the UN, the EU the IAEA and the Interpol).
It reviewed the realization of commitments and recommendations reached in the 1st summit in the US, and discussed measures to strengthen nuclear security and safety in the new situation.
Delegates from many countries put forth measures to ensure nuclear safety and security, including encouraging countries to join international agreements and mechanisms on nuclear issues, improving domestic legal frameworks, building nuclear security assistance and training centers, strengthening international cooperation on the issue.
At the end of the summit, delegates adopted the joint communiqué on facilitating measures to ensure nuclear safety and security in 11 major fields, including the global nuclear security structure, the role of the IAEA, nuclear materials, radioactive sources, nuclear safety and security, transport security, anti-smuggling, nuclear appraisal, nuclear security culture, information security and international cooperation.
The 3rd summit will be held in 2014 in the Netherlands.
At the summit, Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng made speeches on various important issues in the agenda. He said Việt Nam has been actively constructing legal frameworks, safe infrastructure and nuclear security and participating in relevant international treaties and initiatives to effectively realize its commitments, especially since the 1st Nuclear Security Summit.
He noted that the country is finalizing internal procedures for joining in the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The country has effectively cooperated with the IAEA, the US and Russia in using LEU, instead of HEU at Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor. In mid-March 2012 Việt Nam signed with Russia an agreement on sending used nuclear materials to Russia. The country has also joined relevant global and US initiatives. Việt Nam is also negotiating with the US to eventually sign a cooperation agreement on using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Regarding regional cooperation, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng affirmed that Việt Nam is actively joining other ASEAN members to continue to accelerate the construction of a peaceful, stable and nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia, including encouraging countries that have nuclear weapons to soon sign the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ).
On measures to solve nuclear security and safety issues, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng confirmed that nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons are the most important factors, while countries have the legitimate rights to use nuclear energy and technology for peaceful purposes.
The PM reaffirmed Việt Nam’s determination in developing its nuclear power program to meet national energy security demand, and thanked the effective cooperation and support of the IAEA and many countries, including Russia, Japan, the US, France and the Republic of Korea in first steps to realize the program.
