Vietnamese
deputy prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the Mainichi on October 25 that
Vietnam is set to form an agreement with the Japanese government over the
construction of nuclear power facilities in Vietnam’s Ninh Thuan province using
Japanese technology – effectively giving the project the go-ahead.
The deputy prime minister revealed the plans
during an interview in Hanoi with Atsushi Narita, general managing editor of
The Mainichi Newspapers’ Editorial Division.
However, the unpredictable situation amid the
ongoing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, which has
resulted in idespread radiation contamination, has created resistance in Japan
to resuming exports of nuclear power.
Vietnamese prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung is
set to visit Japan on October 30, and conclude an agreement with Japan at that
time. When former Japanese prime minister Naoto Kan visited Vietnam in October
last year, he confirmed that Vietnam would partner with Japan in the
construction of two reactors.
After the outbreak of the nuclear crisis at
the Fukushima plant, Vietnam maintained that it would apply Japanese technology
in the project, but there had been no formal agreement between the governments
of the two countries.
During negotiations, Vietnam presented six
conditions to the Japanese government, including the introduction of
safety-verified, cutting-edge technology, and provisions pertaining to the
disposal of nuclear waste. Japan has consecutively met these conditions.
The final outstanding issue was low-interest
loans to the Vietnamese government that would provide capital for construction.
Both countries are believed to have reached an agreement on this, meaning that
all of the hurdles for construction have been cleared.
In his interview with the Mainichi, Phuc said
that Japan and Vietnam had formed a “strategic partnership.” He said that
Fukushima was an unexpected accident, but stressed that there had been no
change in the relationship between the two countries in terms of nuclear-power
cooperation.
Phuc was appointed deputy prime minister in
August this year after having served as minister and chair of the government
Office of Vietnam, and is in the head position among Vietnam’s four deputy
prime ministers.
He responded to the interview at the request
of a Mainichi group visiting Vietnam, headed by Mainichi Newspapers President
Yutaka Asahina.
Mainichi
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment