Vietnam and Russia signed a nuclear energy deal and several cooperation agreements on Tuesday during a visit to Hanoi by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, highlighting the close ties between the two countries.
Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom and Vietnamese state-owned electricity company EVN have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the nuclear sector, according to a joint document.
Vietnam plans to restart its nuclear power program after putting it on hold for years, as it needs to increase electricity production to power its growing industrial sector, which is a key driver of its economy .
Russia also agreed to transfer a maritime research vessel, under an agreement signed by the Vietnamese Defense Ministry and the Russian Science Ministry.
“The two sides will examine, discuss and find solutions to the limits of bilateral cooperation,” the Vietnamese government said on its website, referring to the agreements signed on Tuesday.
Western sanctions imposed on Russia for its military operation in Ukraine have hampered financial transactions between the two partners.
Russia is Vietnam’s main arms supplier, but Hanoi has said in recent years that it wants to diversify its sources of military equipment.
