Vietnam to order Japan reactors as planned: incoming press

Vietnam has not changed its plans to order two nuclear reactors from Japan, Truong Tan Sang, who is slated to become the nation’s next president, told The Nikkei in an interview on Wednesday.

Truong Tan Sang

Sang, a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee Secretariat, arrived in Japan earlier that day at the invitation of the Japanese government and later spoke with Nikkei Inc. President Tsuneo Kita in a rare interview with the press.

He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Naoto Kan and other Japanese government officials to discuss a bilateral strategic partnership.

Last fall, the two countries agreed at a summit meeting that Vietnam will order nuclear reactors from Japanese companies. Since then, Japan was struck by the March 11 disaster, which resulted in partial meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

“There is no change of direction in regard to cooperation,” Sang said, referring to the purchase plans.

“Japanese firms are taking various (safety) measures, and these improvements will be applied to future plant exports,” he noted, indicating that Vietnam will prioritize safety in selecting the company to build the reactors.

Sang said Vietnam will stick with the economic restructuring that has led to sharp growth there, adding that it aims to become a basic industrial country by 2020.

Vietnam also seeks to strengthen cooperation with Japanese firms in building transportation and distribution infrastructure, according to Sang. The country hopes to quickly build a North-South high-speed rail line, featuring Japan’s shinkansen bullet train technology, as well as airports, harbors and other facilities. Sang added that Vietnam will encourage the use of public-private partnerships, in which the government and firms work together from the ground up.

In addition, Vietnam hopes to receive Japan’s support in space development, with an eye on developing a satellite-based observation system to minimize damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and floods, Sang said. – nikkei

Tags: Vietnam energy, Vietnam nuclear power project