Vietnam and Russia have agreed to build a nuclear technology research center worth US$350 million, during the visit to Hanoi on November 18-19 by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. 

Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right, back) and his Russian counterpart in Hanoi on November 19. Photo: Chinhphu.vn

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Russian counterpart on November 19 witnessed the exchange of decisions on the center construction. 

In the early 2000s, Vietnam eyed nuclear power projects with Russian involvement, which were expected to begin construction in the Vietnamese central province of Ninh Thuan. In 2011, the Russian government pledged to lend Vietnam US$8-US$9 billion for the construction of the power plants. 

In November 2016, the Vietnamese National Assembly cancelled the nuclear power projects over the concerns of rising public debt, and priority given to other key programs like the north-south express railway, urban railways, coastal infrastructure, and airports. The Vietnamese government affirmed that construction technologies or safety were not among reasons for the halt of the nuclear power projects.     

At the working session in Hanoi, the two leaders reached a consensus to boost cooperation in energy, industry, transport, agriculture, IT, digital technologies, and e-government, affirming that oil and gas industry is one of key pillars in the cooperation. 

Hanoitimes