Vietnam seeks deeper nuclear cooperation with Russia's Rosatom

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung called for expanded cooperation in nuclear energy with Russia's Rosatom, including support for Vietnam's planned Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant, at a meeting with CEO Alexey Likhachev on Wednesday.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Summit marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two sides in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.

The Vietnamese cabinet leader thanked the Russian state nuclear corporation and the Russian government for more than four decades of cooperation in supporting Vietnam's nuclear energy sector, including assistance in operating the Da Lat nuclear research reactor, supplying radioactive materials for cancer diagnosis and treatment, and training generations of Vietnamese scientists and specialists.

He said the high level of political trust underpinning the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia provides a strong foundation for making nuclear energy cooperation a long-term strategic pillar of bilateral ties.

As an active member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vietnam remains committed to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, with cooperation with Russia and the development of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power project regarded as key priorities, PM Hung said.

He urged Rosatom to continue supporting the extension of operations at the Da Lat research reactor during the transition period and to back the development of the Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Dong Nai city.

Hung also called for stronger cooperation in workforce training, greater localization of equipment manufacturing to reduce investment costs, and close coordination to promptly address implementation challenges.

Likhachev said he welcomed Hung on his first visit to Russia as prime minister and said the trip marked an important milestone in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

He described Vietnam as one of Rosatom's priority partners and said the corporation was committed to working closely with Vietnamese counterparts to implement existing agreements while exploring new areas of cooperation.

Likhachev updated the prime minister on preparations for the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power project, saying that the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on construction would represent a historic milestone in Vietnam-Russia cooperation and that Rosatom was coordinating closely with Vietnamese partners on implementation.

He reaffirmed Rosatom's readiness to support Vietnam in developing its nuclear industry, including the construction of a modern nuclear research center, the peaceful application of nuclear technologies and the training of highly qualified nuclear specialists.

Beyond nuclear energy, Likhachev said Rosatom sees significant opportunities to expand cooperation with Vietnamese partners in renewable energy, high technology, logistics and Arctic shipbuilding, and expressed hope that both sides would continue discussions to advance these initiatives.

Under Vietnam's plans, the Ninh Thuan 1 plant will be located in Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district, while Ninh Thuan 2 will be built in Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district, both in the former Ninh Thuan province. Ninh Thuan was merged into Khanh Hoa province last July to form the new Khanh Hoa, home to the famous bays of Nha Trang and Cam Ranh.

According to a report at the February 2026 meeting of the Steering Committee for the construction of the nuclear power plant project, relevant agencies have basically completed the institutional work, implemented some tasks related to land clearance and human resource training, and completed negotiations with the Russian side and agreed on the draft intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant.

EVN has been assigned as the investor for the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant, while Petrovietnam has been selected as the investor for the Ninh Thuan 2.