Vietnam chairs seminar on peaceful use of nuclear energy on the sidelines of the 11th NPT Review Conference
WVR - On April 29, at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York (USA), on the occasion of the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Vietnam chaired a seminar themed “Atoms for Development: Technology, Capacity, and Finance for the Use of Nuclear Energy for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation attending the 11th NPT Review Conference, speaks at the Seminar. (Photo: DCT) |
The event was co-sponsored by Japan, the Philippines, Belgium, South Africa, Senegal, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Guatemala. More than 100 delegates, representing NPT member countries and international organizations related to nuclear energy, attended the seminar.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation attending the 11th NPT Review Conference, highlighted the significant contributions of nuclear energy to various fields such as healthcare, agriculture, industry, food security, energy security, and climate change adaptation. She cited Vietnam's successful practices in imaging diagnostics, cancer screening and treatment, and pest control in agricultural products as examples.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that in the context of developing countries facing limitations in infrastructure, technical capacity, and sustainable finance, and the risk of being left behind, it is crucial to ensure equity, bridge gaps, and enhance access to nuclear energy applications for the Global South.
Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang called for enhanced international cooperation in nuclear energy applications, focusing on supporting developing countries in capacity building, training, promoting technology transfer, and mobilizing sustainable financial resources to support long-term development goals. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should play a key coordinating role in promoting the peaceful application of nuclear energy, while strengthening partnerships between the IAEA, international financial institutions, development partners, as well as South-South and trilateral cooperation.
Among the speakers, the IAEA representative proposed a new approach to this field within the NPT framework, introducing IAEA's Technical Cooperation Programs. The Japanese representative shared efforts to promote international cooperation and support developing countries in nuclear energy applications and capacity enhancement. Finland emphasized the need to improve access to financial and technological resources, suggesting that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could be a suitable solution for developing countries.
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| Vietnam calls for enhanced international cooperation in nuclear energy applications. (Photo: DCT) |
Representatives from co-sponsoring countries Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Philippines, Senegal, Guatemala, and many participating countries reaffirmed the practical role of nuclear applications for peaceful purposes in promoting sustainable development. They expressed a desire for more favorable conditions in accessing technology, enhancing capacity, and mobilizing financial resources, ensuring affordable investment in nuclear energy for developing countries. Delegates highly appreciated Vietnam's initiative in organizing the seminar.
The seminar contributed to highlighting the pillar of peaceful use of nuclear energy within the NPT, considering it an inseparable factor in ensuring the balance and effectiveness of the Treaty. The speakers' remarks conveyed a consistent message that nuclear technology, if responsibly governed and equitably accessed, can become a significant driver for inclusive growth, innovation, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
* During the 11th NPT Review Conference (April 27-29), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and the Vietnamese delegation held meetings with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, UN Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Kunimistu Ayano, Republic of Korea Deputy Foreign Minister Yeondoo Jeong, Singapore Deputy Foreign Minister Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Finnish State Secretary Jukka Salovaara, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Kupiecki, Norwegian Foreign Minister Eivind Vad Petersson, Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius, Latvian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andžejs Viļumsons, and Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite.
During these meetings, both sides discussed measures to strengthen relations between Vietnam and these countries on both bilateral and multilateral levels. Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized the role of multilateralism and the responsibility of NPT member states in reinforcing commitments to the NPT based on three pillars: non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, disarmament, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The partners appreciated Vietnam's dynamic development, affirming Vietnam as one of the important partners in the region. They expressed a desire to further promote political-diplomatic relations, enhance the effectiveness of economic, trade, and investment cooperation with Vietnam, and support cooperation in science, technology, renewable energy, and sustainable development. The partners also congratulated Vietnam on assuming the role of Chair of the 11th NPT Review Conference and expressed their readiness to continue supporting contributions to the overall success of the Conference.
