Viet Nam wants to closely cooperate with France in developing its nuclear power projects, an official said.
Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang expressed his hope at a working session with former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who visited Ha Noi recently.
France is a leading nuclear power producer in the world and Viet Nam hopes to learn from its experience, Hoang told de Villepin.
Viet Nam is currently working on Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power plant projects in Ninh Thuan province, aiming to meet the country’s increasing demand for electricity at present and in the future.
At the meeting, Minister Hoang acknowledged the efficiency of French-invested projects in Viet Nam, saying as of March 2013 France had invested a total of US$3.1 billion in 383 projects in Viet Nam, ranking 16th among foreign investors in the country.
He noted two-way trade between Viet Nam and France has increased considerably over the years, reaching US$3.752 billion in 2012 alone.
Viet Nam is also now the seventh largest recipient of official development assistance (ODA) from the French government.
Former French PM de Villepin said the government and businesses of France are paying attention to energy projects in Viet Nam, and are willing to assist the country in developing its energy sector.