Vietnam attends the 69th Session of the General Conference of IAEA
WVR - From September 15-19, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 69th Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
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Joining the delegation were Ambassador Le Vu Thai Hoang, Ambassador of Vietnam to Austria, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the IAEA and other international organizations, representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy, and leaders and officials from units under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
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| The Vietnamese delegation attending the 69th Session of the IAEA General Conference. |
The 69th annual session of the IAEA General Conference was held at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) in Vienna, Austria, with the participation of over 2,000 senior officials and representatives from 179 IAEA member states. The event aimed to share and exchange information related to the development of science and technology, the promotion of nuclear applications, nuclear safety and security, and enhancing the effectiveness of nuclear inspections...
At the opening ceremony of the General Conference on September 15, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized that this session is taking place at a highly challenging time. Terrorist actions, numerous military conflicts, and the erosion of nuclear norms are occurring amidst a growing gap between poverty and prosperity. The IAEA is on a mission to reduce the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation while promoting nuclear science to address issues of poverty, energy, and healthcare.
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| Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General, speaking at the plenary session. |
On behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, Ambassador Le Vu Thai Hoang praised the IAEA's efforts and achievements in promoting nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Ambassador Hoang was pleased to announce that in November 2024, the National Assembly of Vietnam approved the continuation of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project. This is a landmark decision with profound national significance, aimed at strengthening energy infrastructure, ensuring long-term energy security, promoting the development of high-level human resources, and enhancing the country's scientific and technological capabilities.
The Ambassador affirmed Vietnam's commitment to applying nuclear technology for sustainable development and addressing global challenges through IAEA initiatives such as the ZODIAC project (controlling zoonotic diseases), NUTEC Plastic (monitoring and reducing ocean microplastics), Atoms4Food (enhancing food production and safety), and Rays of Hope (cancer control and reduction).
The IAEA's support for Vietnam in nuclear security is highly significant through the implementation of the Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan (INSSP) for the 2024-2027 period. This includes support for Vietnam in ensuring nuclear security at major public events, such as the recent 80th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 2025), including training personnel, providing experts, and technical equipment for detecting radioactive materials.
Vietnam currently operates a research reactor in Da Lat and is constructing a Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center with a new research reactor, reinforcing Vietnam's commitment to applying nuclear energy for socio-economic development.
Vietnam appreciates the IAEA's support through technical cooperation projects to promote the Safe Reactor Development Program and looks forward to closer cooperation with the IAEA in consulting, developing human resources, and other areas to ensure the success of the project.
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| Ambassador Le Vu Thai Hoang speaking at the plenary session of the 69th IAEA General Conference. |
On the occasion of the plenary session on September 15, Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh met with Ms. Karine Herviou, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.
Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh expressed gratitude to the IAEA in general and to Ms. Karine Herviou in her capacity as IAEA Deputy Director General for their active support to Vietnam over the years in enhancing the nation's technical capacity to promote the safe and secure application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Through the Country Programme Framework (CPF), the IAEA has actively supported Vietnam through technical cooperation projects for the construction of a new research reactor and the promotion of nuclear energy applications in healthcare, agriculture, industry, environmental protection, water resource management, climate change response, and ensuring safety and security.
Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh emphasized that Vietnam is currently expediting preparations for the nuclear power project, including completing the legal framework, developing human resource development plans, and public information dissemination.
In this process, Vietnam is eager for the IAEA's support in enhancing the capacity of the national radiation and nuclear safety authority in assessing nuclear safety throughout the entire lifecycle of the nuclear power plant.
Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh also noted that the Ministry of Science and Technology is actively implementing the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center project, with a 10MW research reactor located in Dong Nai province. This is an important project expected to boost the development of the nuclear energy sector and radiation applications in Vietnam for many years to come.
Vietnam requests the IAEA's cooperation in supporting the assessment of the basic design of the reactor and safety analysis reports related to the site and FS of the project. Additionally, small modular reactor (SMR) technology has been identified by Vietnam as a national strategic technology. Vietnam requests the IAEA to share and support Vietnam in building legal and regulatory frameworks to manage the safety and security of this very new SMR technology.
Deputy Director General Karine Herviou shared Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh's views, affirming that the IAEA is always ready to support Vietnam in developing and applying nuclear energy, ensuring safety and security, especially for the key tasks that Vietnam is implementing. She also assigned relevant IAEA units to work directly with Vietnam to implement the planned tasks.
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| The Vietnamese delegation taking a commemorative photo with IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Safety and Security, Ms. Karine Herviou, and IAEA staff. |
Also on September 15, Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh met with Mr. Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy.
Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh expressed Vietnam's deep appreciation for the timely and valuable support from the IAEA in building the national nuclear infrastructure from an early stage, which has achieved significant progress to date.
Currently, the Ministry of Science and Technology is tasked by the government to coordinate with the IAEA to complete the assessment of nuclear power infrastructure, with the INIR Mission expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Based on the recommendations of the IAEA working group, Vietnam will develop a Master Plan for Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development, specifying the tasks of relevant ministries and agencies to accelerate the progress of the nuclear power project.
Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov shared the Deputy Minister's views, affirming that the IAEA is always ready to support Vietnam in implementing many important national programs, including building nuclear power plants, new research reactors, and SMR technology.
The IAEA Deputy Director General proposed that Vietnam consider developing a national policy on the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel safety from the early stages of implementing the aforementioned projects to ensure the safe management of all nuclear activities in Vietnam.
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| The Vietnamese delegation taking a group photo with IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy, Mr. Mikhail Chudakov, and IAEA staff. |
On September 16, on the occasion of the General Conference, Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) and the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS).
At the signing ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Linh, Director General of VARANS, stated that this is a significant milestone in the cooperation between VARANS and WINS.
This Memorandum of Understanding reflects the shared commitment of both parties to enhance nuclear security, build capacity, and promote international cooperation in this field. In recent years, VARANS staff and several related Vietnamese agencies have participated in nuclear security capacity-building activities organized by WINS for Southeast Asian countries.
In the future, VARANS hopes to continue collaborating with and receiving support from WINS to enhance the safety and security of nuclear and radioactive materials in Vietnam, especially in the context of major public events and the growing development of domestic nuclear energy applications.
Mr. Lars van Dassen, Executive Director of WINS, expressed his satisfaction with the successful signing of this Memorandum of Understanding after nearly two years of preparation. He also expressed his readiness to cooperate with VARANS in organizing activities within the framework of the Memorandum, contributing to strengthening regional and global nuclear security.
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| Mr. Lars van Dassen, Executive Director of WINS, and Mr. Nguyen Hoang Linh, Director General of VARANS, at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding. |
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| Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh taking a commemorative photo at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between WINS and VARANS. |
On September 16-17, Dr. Tran Chi Thanh, President of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM), attended and presented reports at two side events within the framework of the 69th IAEA General Conference.
On September 16, at an event organized by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to celebrate its 20th anniversary, Mr. Tran Chi Thanh delivered a presentation titled "Contributions and Future Directions of VINATOM in Expanding and Developing Nuclear Science and Technology in Vietnam", sharing Vietnam's achievements and experiences in applying nuclear energy for peaceful purposes to serve socio-economic development. He also emphasized the important role of international cooperation in scientific research, human resource training, and technological capacity building.
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| Dr. Tran Chi Thanh, President of VINATOM, presenting at the event celebrating the 20th anniversary of JAEA. |
At the side event "NUTEC Plastics: Achievements, Progress and Prospects" within the framework of the 69th IAEA General Conference on September 17, Dr. Ha Lan Anh, from the Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology, VINATOM, was honored to be invited to present a report. She introduced Vietnam's achievements in marine microplastic monitoring, from establishing an IAEA-standard laboratory to providing the first baseline data at Do Son Beach, along with regular monitoring activities, using stable isotopes to distinguish between virgin and recycled plastics, and contributing data to the NUTEC Plastics common database.
Ms. Ha Lan Anh emphasized the role of nuclear science in tracing the origin and assessing the accumulation of microplastics. She also affirmed Vietnam's active participation, combined with international cooperation, as a significant contribution to the goal of establishing a Global Microplastic Monitoring Network by 2026, which received interest and high appreciation from international delegates.
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| Dr. Ha Lan Anh, from VINATOM, presenting at the NUTEC Plastics Event on September 17. |
During the General Conference session, the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and VINATOM also organized bilateral and multilateral meetings to enhance connections and exchange cooperation directions in their respective fields for the future.
(Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the IAEA)
