HANOI, May 17 (RIA Novosti, Thu Huong) - The Vietnamese government views Russia as a strategic partner in the economic development of the country, including in the sphere of nuclear energy, said Vuong Huu Tan, Director of the Vietnam Nuclear Energy Institute.
The second sitting of the Vietnam-Russia coordinating committee on nuclear energy is to take place in Hanoi Tuesday. Vladimir Generalov, head of nuclear construction department of the Federal Nuclear Energy Agency (Rosatom), heads the Russian delegation.
The sides are to exchange information on the nuclear energy development in their countries, sum up the results of their cooperation for the last two years and outline areas of cooperation for 2005-2006.
Russia is a traditional partner of Vietnam in nuclear engineering. The only research reactor at the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute (500 kilowatt), which was restored with Soviet assistance, has worked effectively and safely for 21 years. The modernization of the Da Lat nuclear reactor control and safety system is one of the main issues of cooperation between Russian and Vietnamese experts. According to Vuong Huu Tan, the corresponding contract may be signed this year.
The partners also agreed to boost the implementation of the programs planned during the previous sitting of the joint committee, including the modernization of the gamma-ray installation in Hanoi and the supply of this center with radioactive materials from Russia.
According to the country's main expert on nuclear energy, Vietnam is also interested in cooperation with Russia in other peaceful nuclear activities, including the production of radioactive isotopes, control and physical protection of radioactive materials, the handling of nuclear wastes, as well as in Russia's experience in fundamental and applied research, personnel training, uranium ore fields exploration and extraction, and construction and operation of nuclear plants.
Vladimir Generalov noted that the Russian side "was ready to discuss questions of cooperation in all areas with Vietnamese colleagues." In particular, Rosatom is ready to implement all the programs planned by both sides in 2003 and accelerate the process with due regard for the local partners' capabilities.
The head of the Vietnamese delegation said that nuclear cooperation nowadays did not satisfy the desires and requirements of both sides. According to the participants' assessments, the elaboration and approval of a long-term strategy for the development of nuclear industry by the Vietnamese government will help improve the situation in this sphere.
The Rosatom delegation will be in Vietnam till May 20.
