VietNamNet Bridge – With "high awareness" that nuclear security is the responsibility of all nations, Viet Nam fully supports the common goal of non-proliferation and disarmament, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said yesterday, March 25.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung addressed the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) at The Hague, Netherlands yesterday.

Addressing the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) at The Hague, Netherlands, he said alongside taking voluntary measures to ensure nuclear safety, all countries should design specific and suitable solutions to support developing countries in the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

For its part, Viet Nam had, step by step, completed its legal framework, extending control over almost all high-intensity radioactive sources in the country, he said.

He said Viet Nam had actively participated in international initiatives related to nuclear security, applied measures to monitor the import and export of radioactive substances at airports and seaports, provided intensive training for industry personnel and built a culture of safety in relevant agencies.

The PM also hailed the central role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in strengthening the global nuclear security structure.

"As a member and chair of the IAEA Board of Governors for 2013-2014, Viet Nam is, together with partners, doing its utmost to make positive contributions to ensuring nuclear safety in the world," Dung said.

He stated that the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes, non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament was a common target for the whole world.

To achieve this, the role of multilateral institutions, especially the IAEA and the United Nations, should be promoted, the PM said.

The NSS is being attended by representatives from 53 countries and five international organisations, including 40 high-ranking leaders.

Viet Nam-UN relations

On the sidelines of the NSS, Prime Minister Dung held separate meetings yesterday with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and French President Francois Hollande.

Both Dung and Ban Ki-moon expressed happiness at the development of Viet Nam-UN relations.

Viet Nam would continue to take the initiative and step up contributions to realising the UN's millennium development goals and support reforms within the largest international organisation, the PM said.

He also stated that Viet Nam would make every effort in fulfilling its role as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 period.

Ban Ki-moon spoke highly of Viet Nam's endeavours and contributions to the UN's common goals.

In his meeting with PM Dung, French President Francois Hollande stressed that cultural similarities between Viet Nam and France.

The two leaders agreed to use their strategic partnership well to ensure success of the Viet Nam Year in France that is being held this year.

PM Dung invited both Ban Ki-moon and Francois Hollande to visit Viet Nam.

Other world leaders

PM Dung also met yesterday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Park Geun Hye and other world leaders.

In talks held with President Xi Jinping, the latter applauded results obtained during the recent visit by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang to Viet Nam and expressed his hope that the Viet Nam-China steering committee would meet soon to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Dung responded that he has asked Vietnamese officials of the steering committee to ensure proper preparation for the coming meeting.

He also accepted an invitation from President Xi Jinping to pay an official visit to China.

Receiving Dung, US President Barack Obama mentioned major progress made in the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and confirmed that he would visit Viet Nam in the near future.

Obama also said the US would have proper and flexible policies for Viet Nam and that it would open its market further for made-in-Vietnam garments, leather and agriculture products.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Dung that he was happy with the recent progress made in bilateral relations. He spoke highly of the recent visit to Japan by Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

In her talks with Dung, South Korean President Park Geun Hye said that she hoped the two countries would soon complete negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement so as to boost investment and commercial relations.

Dutch Queen

Viet Nam always attached importance to fostering friendship and co-operation with the Netherlands, Dung told Dutch Queen Maxima, who is also a United Nations expert in inclusive finance.

He stated that the two countries had co-operated well in all five priority areas identified for promoting bilateral ties: climate change adaptation and water management, agriculture, sea-based economy, oil and gas, and logistics services.

The strategic partnership on climate change adaptation and water management had been effective and of practical benefit to both sides, Dung said.

Both leaders agreed that Viet Nam-Netherlands ties not only benefited either country, but also deepened co-operation between the two important economic regions in the world.

They noted with pleasure the positive development of economic, trade and investment co-operation between the two countries. The Netherlands remained Viet Nam's leading investor and trade partner in Europe .

PM Dung expressed his wish that the Royal Family and the Queen herself would continue creating favourable conditions for the Dutch Government and companies to set up stable and long-term partnerships with Viet Nam, especially in priority areas.

He suggested that Queen Maxima, as the UN General-Secretary's Special Envoy on Inclusive Finance for Development, pay attention to prioritising co-operation programmes for Viet Nam towards enhancing management of micro-credit projects, ensuring food security and providing education.

The Vietnamese Government was calling on bilateral and multilateral donors and non-governmental organisations to finance micro-finance projects so that women and poor people, particularly in mountainous and rural areas, can gain access to capital, he said.

It was also exerting every effort to create a favourable legal environment for inclusive finance activities in Viet Nam, he added.

The Queen proposed measures to boost bilateral co-operation with Viet Nam, especially in inclusive finance.

She said the land and people of Viet Nam had made a deep impression during her visit to the country in March 2011.

During the talks, PM Dung extended an invitation to the King and Queen to visit Viet Nam again at an appropriate time.

The Hague Nuclear Security Summit wraps up

The 3rd Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) wrapped up in The Hague, the Netherlands on March 25 with the adoption of a final joint statement that underlined the need to intensify closer international cooperation in securing nuclear security.

The two-day event brought together leaders from 53 countries and five international organisations in seeking measures to reinforce nuclear security and minimise nuclear terrorism threats.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the Vietnamese delegation actively participated in all activities of the event.

In his speeches at the summit, PM Dung showed the country’s sense of responsibility and its active contributions to guaranteeing nuclear safety and security.

The Vietnamese leader laid the emphasis on the need to enhance nuclear security for peace and development.

In addition to efforts of each country, it is necessary to further bolster bilateral, regional and international cooperation, and fully tap the IAEA’s central role in the field, he stated.

The summit statement highlighted the building of a powerful and comprehensive international nuclear security structure with the central role to be played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It also stressed that measures to enhance nuclear security will not impact countries’ nuclear energy development for peaceful purposes.

All countries affirmed their commitments to the common goal of non-proliferation and disarmament of nuclear weapons and use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

They also made clear that many challenges remained and stressed the need for increased international cooperation to ensure highly enriched uranium (HEU), plutonium and other radioactive substances do not fall into the wrong hands.

The fourth summit will be held in Chicago, the US, in 2016.

PM Dung leaves Netherlands for Cuba

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on March 26 left the Netherlands for Cuba to begin a two-day visit from March 26-27 at the invitation of Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State and Ministers.

During their stay in the Netherlands from March 23-25, PM Dung and his delegation became actively involved in all activities of the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS).

In his speech at the summit before representatives from 53 countries and five international organisations, PM Dung highlighted Vietnam’s sense of responsibility and its active contributions to guaranteeing nuclear safety and security.

As a member and chair of the IAEA Board of Governors for the 2013-2014 tenure, Vietnam will do its best together with partners, to make positive contributions to ensuring nuclear safety in the world, the government leader said.

On the sidelines of the summit, PM Dung met with senior leaders from China, the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, France, Germany, Singapore, Norway, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, Czech and Malaysia.

He also talked with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and EC President Jose Manuel Barroso.

On the evening of March 25, PM Dung successfully concluded his participation in the third NSS, leaving the Netherlands to embark on his visit to Cuba with a view to consolidating the time-honoured friendship and improve the efficiency of mutually beneficial cooperation in economics, trade and investment.

Source: VNS