Question: Please elaborate on Vietnam - US nuclear energy cooperation.

Answer:

“Vietnam, as a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, strongly supports and actively contributes to the common efforts of the  international community in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, promoting the use of nuclear energy for the peaceful purposes in the interest of all nations. In this regard, Vietnam has entered into important agreements and treaties  and committed to  strictly and fully comply with duties set for a state party, for that it has earned high appreciation from  international organizations and countries.

In Vietnam, civilian nuclear energy and technologies have been put in small -  scale use in some fields as healthcare, agriculture and scientific research. Vietnam is in initial stage of developing a nuclear power program. In this connection, Vietnam appreciates and is willing to expand its international cooperation. To date, Vietnam has signed bilateral agreements on nuclear cooperation with Russia, China, France, India, Republic of Korea and Argentina. In March 2010, Vietnam and the United States signed an MOU on nuclear power cooperation. Currently, the two sides are in the  stage of exchanging views for entering into negotiation on an agreement of civilian nuclear cooperation, a.k.a Agreement 123 which deals with the transfer of nuclear material information, equipment and technologies from the United Sates to another country to ensure non-proliferation.