Vietnam reaffirms commitment to nuclear use for sustainable development
Vietnam pledges to actively engage in international initiatives such as ZODIAC on combatting zoonotic diseases, NUTEC Plastics on reducing ocean microplastics, Atoms4Food on promoting food production and safety, and Rays of Hope on cancer prevention and treatment.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations and international organisations in Vienna, delivers remarks at the meeting. (Photo published by VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)𓃲 – Vietnam has reiterated its commitment to cooperating closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in harnessing nuclear technology for sustainable development.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations and international organisations in Vienna, highlighed the country's commitment while addressing the plenary session of the 69th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference,
He added that Vietnam pledges to actively engage in international initiatives such as ZODIAC on combatting zoonotic diseases, NUTEC Plastics on reducing ocean microplastics, Atoms4Food on promoting food production and safety, and Rays of Hope on cancer prevention and treatment.
Commending the agency’s achievements in advancing the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Hoang noted that in November 2024, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved the continued implementation of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, a landmark decision to reinforce energy infrastructure, ensure long-term energy security, promote scientific and technological capabilities, and develop a high-quality workforce.
Held from September 15 to 19 at the Vienna International Centre, the conference gathered more than 2,000 senior officials and delegates from 179 IAEA member states to deliberate on key issues including nuclear science for sustainable development, nuclear safety and security, and enhancement of safeguards.
The Vietnamese delegation poses for a photo with IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy Mikhail Chudakov and other IAEA officials. (Photo published by VNA)
Leading the Vietnamese delegation to the session, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh met with IAEA Deputy Director General Karine Herviou (Nuclear Safety and Security) and Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov (Nuclear Energy), seeking continued IAEA assistance for important projects such as building a new research reactor, preparing for nuclear power deployment, developing small modular reactor (SMR) technology, enhancing regulatory capacity for nuclear safety and security, and conducting full lifecycle safety assessments of nuclear power plants.
A key highlight was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) on September 16, marking a significant step in international cooperation to bolster nuclear security capacity and foster regional collaboration.
Representatives from the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM) also made notable contributions, including presenting marine microplastic monitoring results under the NUTEC Plastics initiative, which received high evaluation from the international community. The participation underscored Vietnam’s increasingly proactive and constructive role in the IAEA’s shared efforts toward a safer and more sustainable world./.
The French side pledged to share technical guidelines and safety standards, with the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) ready to provide training for Vietnamese specialists.
For the Party Committee, authorities and people of Khanh Hoa, this is both a responsibility and a source of pride, promising to accelerate local and national development in a new era.
Vietnam, together with ASEAN countries, also called for the support of UN member states in implementing the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), considering it an important contribution to efforts promoting regional and international peace and security.
The IAAS Academician title is awarded to a few select outstanding scientists who play a leading role and have significant influence in the international scientific community.
In addition to traditional fields such as materials science, semiconductors, laser, optics, biodiversity conservation, and water treatment, both sides agreed to expand into new areas such as space technology and Earth observation, biomedical science and nuclear medicine, and drones.
In recent years, Vietnam has made notable advances in AI. The 2024 Government AI Readiness Index ranked Vietnam among the top five in ASEAN. Globally, Vietnam placed third in AI trust and fifth in AI acceptance, reflecting growing public confidence and willingness to adopt the technology.
Vietnam is in the 2nd position among the 37 lower middle-income group economies, and 9th among the 17 economies in South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania.
The National Innovation Centre under the Ministry of Finance has officially launched three new networks of innovation and strategic technology in quantum technology (VNQuantum), cybersecurity (ViSecurity), and aerospace and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV Vietnam).
The sandbox serves as a playground for technological experimentation, allowing select companies to test innovative business models and technologies under real-world conditions for a defined period and scope.
Authorities are still working to determine the full extent of the compromised data, with the exact number of affected records continuing to be assessed and documented.
Ministries and localities are required to follow up on conclusions of Party General Secretary To Lam and the Central Steering Committee for the Development of Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation. This involves studying revisions to laws on intellectual property, personal income tax, public employees and anti-corruption, as well as policies to attract and develop talent in science, technology and digital transformation.
Under the decision, several procedures are abolished, including the transfer of the right to use the national domain name “.vn” and the change of its registrant to ensure an authorised post-check mechanism, in line with the policy of socialising services.
The gallery, a fusion of technology and art, where “dry lines of code are elevated into emotions”, traces the history of blockchain, from its nascent stages to global surge, encompassing bitcoin and the broader universe of digital assets.
Professor Vu Minh Khuong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore emphasised that the country is witnessing a profound and comprehensive shift, particularly through institutional reform and the ongoing streamlining of government structures.
This project will not only deliver economic benefits but also transform agriculture, helping the Mekong Delta lead in climate-resilient smart farming and deeper integration into global value chains.
Ministries and agencies, many already seasoned in research and practical application, should harness their expertise to create techynological products that could compete not only in the domestic market but on the global stage, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung.
A Vietnamese tech miracle is entirely within reach, if supported by well-structured, long-term, and drastic policies, said former Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin.
The Party and the State have identified digital transformation as one of the three strategic breakthroughs for the new era, as set out in the Politburo's Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, affirms that developing science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation is a top strategic breakthrough and the main driver to accelerate the growth of modern productive forces, improve production relations, reform national governance, and foster socio-economic growth.
Vietnam's meteorological and hydrological sector has been actively integrating AI, big data, and digital transformation into its forecasting operations.
The Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Asset Association (VBA), KuCoin Group, and 1Matrix Company have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ushering in a new stage of cooperation to strengthen blockchain infrastructure, expand digital asset applications, and accelerate the growth of Vietnam’s digital economy.
Intellectual property (IP) has played a vital role throughout Vietnam’s history, driving innovation and socio-economic development while supporting the country’s industrialisation, modernisation, and deeper global integration.
