Japan to assist Vietnam in building its first nuclear power plant

May 15, 2008 Thursday

Japan to assist Vietnam in building its first nuclear power plant

LENGTH: 164 words


Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo

Tokyo, May 15 Kyodo - Japan signed Thursday an agreement to provide
assistance to Vietnam to build its first nuclear power plant, government
officials said.

Under the deal, Japan will help Vietnam lay the groundwork for the
construction by working together mainly in the areas of safety regulations
and human resources development.

The Vietnamese government is trying to begin the construction by 2015 to
operate its first nuclear power plant by 2020.

The agreement is in part aimed at making it easier for Japanese companies
to win orders for the construction in Vietnam, the officials said.

Companies from France, South Korea and other countries are also showing
strong interest in taking part in the construction.

The agreement was signed by Masashi Nakano, senior vice minister of
economy, trade and industry, and his Vietnamese counterpart, Do Huu Hao,
in Hanoi.

Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0537 gmt 15 May 08