Vietnam Plans to Build Japanese Nuclear Power Plants, Introduce New-Generation Reactors After 2040 and Potentially Become the First in Southeast Asia

Vietnamese President To Lam, currently visiting Japan, held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on November 9. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy cooperation, under which Japan-developed next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs) are planned to be built and put into operation in Vietnam after 2040. If the plan is implemented, Vietnam will become the first Southeast Asian country to adopt Japanese nuclear energy technology. To Lam began a four-day visit to Japan on November 8 at the invitation of the Japanese government. This is the first visit by a Vietnamese president to Japan in 11 years. During the talks, Takaichi emphasized the concept of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and expressed her desire to deepen strategic cooperation with Vietnam. The two sides also said they would strengthen security cooperation and work toward Japan providing equipment needed for Vietnam's participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations through its government security capacity-building support mechanism. In the economic sphere, the two countries plan to strengthen cooperation in critical minerals and encourage Japanese companies to participate in Vietnam's energy development. They also signed a loan agreement to support Vietnam's construction of a highly efficient combined-cycle gas-and-steam power plant and accelerate the implementation of a liquefied natural gas power project. Nuclear energy cooperation is an important outcome of the visit. Vietnam had previously decided to build two nuclear power plants in its south-central region. The two sides will further advance related cooperation with the goal of introducing Japanese SMR technology after 2040. Japan will also support Vietnam's training of artificial intelligence talent. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to promote digital technology and AI research and development and plan to strengthen cooperation on frontier AI safety research. To Lam said Vietnam hopes to become a high-income country before 2045, with science and technology, innovation and digital transformation serving as key drivers of development, and that Japan will play an important role in the process.