Japan is willing to assist Vietnam in choosing a suitable nuclear reactor for the latter’s first nuclear power plants, said Japanese Ambassador to the communist nation Yasuaki Tanizaki.The Japanese diplomat made this statement at a recent meeting with Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nghiem Vu Khai in Hanoi.During the meeting, Ambassador Tanizaki said Japan has rich experience in nuclear power and is ready to share with Vietnam, which is planning to build its first nuclear power plant in the central coastal province of Ninh Thuan next year.In addition, Japan wants to share, support and enhance comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam in science and technology, he noted, urging the two countries to focus on technology and specific cooperative projects.With financial and technical assistance from Russia and Japan, Vietnam will build its first two nuclear power plants with total capacity of 4,000 MW despite serious shortage of human resources. The country targets to develop nine additional plants to raise total capacity to 10,700 MW by 2030.Many Vietnamese scientists and intellectuals,including those working in foreign prestigious institutions, have urged the communist government to halt its nuclear power program due to concerns of costs and safety. They also sent a petition to Japanese leaders asking for Japan not to support the Vietnam’s plan to prevent a nuclear disaster similar to Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011. (Tien Phong – Pioneer Feb 7 p2)
