Vietnam to Revive Nuclear Energy Program to Fuel Economic Growth

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Hanoi and signed a number of cooperation agreements and a nuclear energy pact with Vietnam. Vietnam wants to resume its nuclear energy program after years of suspension because it needs to increase power generation to support its expanding industrial sector, which is a major contributor to its economy.

Its primary supplier of military hardware has historically been Russia, and Russian oil and gas firms have operations in Vietnam's share of the South China Sea, including in territories that China also claims.Vietnam's state-owned power company EVN and Russia's state atomic energy firm Rosatom agreed to increase nuclear collaboration. According to a joint document showing their signed cooperation agreements.

Numerous penalties have been placed on Rosatom's senior leaders and businesses by the United States. The U.S. Department of State issued the most recent set of actions last week.Vietnam's defense ministry and Russia's science ministry struck an agreement with Moscow that included the transfer of a maritime research vessel to Vietnam.

Financial transactions between Hanoi and Moscow have been hindered by Western sanctions placed on Russia for its military campaign in Ukraine. Agreements to collaborate on wireless communications and the digital economy were also agreed.