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A group of 28 Vietnamese students have become the first international graduates ofÌýa course on nuclear technology at Russia's National Research Nuclear University MEPhI. TheÌýsix-year course is part ofÌýa program supported by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

Significant social and industrial development are fundamental added values that come when bringing in nuclear power to a country keen to advance, writes Luis Echávarri in an open letter responding to the cancellation of Vietnam's nuclear program.

An agreement to cooperate in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes has been signed between the national nuclear research institutes of Thailand and Vietnam.

GE HitachiÌýis to help the Vietnam Atomic Energy Agency enhance its understanding of light water reactor technology and nuclear project management under a memorandum of understanding signed in Hanoi yesterday.

Several international cooperation agreements related to nuclear safety and regulation have been signed this week on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference in Vienna.

The engineering subsidiary of Russia's Rosatom has signed a general framework agreement with Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) for construction of unit 1 of the planned Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant. The country's electricity use is set to triple in 15 years.

China will train nuclear personnel from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries under an agreement signed yesterday between the ASEAN Centre for Energy and China General Nuclear (CGN).

The UK has agreed to extend the secondment of a senior nuclear inspector to Vietnam's Agency for Radiation and Nuclear SafetyÌýas part of their continued cooperation. Meanwhile, US-based GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy has agreed to cooperate in training for nuclear safety analysis while Russia will help promote nuclear energy in the country.

Vietnamese officials have chosen Rosatom's AES-2006 design for the country's first nuclear power plant at Ninh Thuan, increasing the planned capacity of the four unit plant by about 800 MWe. A second plant should follow based on a partnership with Japan.

US-based Lightbridge Corp has extended its nuclear cooperation with Vietnam by agreeing to offer consultancy services for setting up a nuclear research centre, including a research reactor, in the country.

A USA-Vietnam agreement on civil nuclear energy cooperation has entered into force. The agreement establishes the terms for commercial nuclear trade, research and technology exchanges between the two countries as provided under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act.

Lightbridge Corp has become the first US company to work with the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear SafetyÌýfollowing their signing of a memorandum of understanding to develop the administrative, legal and regulatory infrastructure required to support Vietnam¶¶Òõpro nuclear power program.