Vietnam led a roundtable talk at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, marking the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The event, titled “Atoms for Development: Technology, Capacity, and Financing for Nuclear Applications in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” was co-sponsored by Japan, the Philippines, Belgium, South Africa, Senegal, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Guatemala. It attracted over 100 attendees, including representatives from NPT member states and international organizations in the nuclear energy sector.
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During her initial comments, Le Thi Thu Hang, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Vietnamese delegation at the 11th NPT Review Conference, emphasized the important role that nuclear energy plays in many fields, including health care, agriculture, industry, food security, energy stability, and adapting to climate change.
She referenced Vietnam's tangible successes in the fields of medical imaging, cancer detection and therapy, as well as pest management in farming products. The representative from Vietnam pointed out that developing nations still encounter limitations in infrastructure, technical capability, and sustainable funding, as well as the danger of being left behind.
She emphasized the importance of promoting fairness and enhancing access to nuclear applications for countries in the Global South. Hang emphasized the need for enhanced global collaboration in the use of nuclear technology, concentrating on capacity-building, education, technology sharing, and securing sustainable funding to aid long-term development objectives.
She emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ought to take a leading role in coordinating efforts to promote the peaceful application of nuclear energy.
Additionally, it should strengthen collaborations with international financial organizations and development partners, along with frameworks for South-South and trilateral cooperation. An official from the IAEA suggested fresh strategies under the NPT framework and presented the agency's technical cooperation initiative.
Japan detailed its initiatives to enhance global collaboration and aid in developing the capabilities of countries in need. Finland highlighted the importance of better access to financing and technology, pointing out that small modular reactors (SMRs) might be viable options for the economies of developing nations. At the same time, delegates from co-sponsoring nations such as Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Philippines, Senegal, and Guatemala, along with other attendees, emphasized the significant impact of peaceful nuclear applications on encouraging sustainable development.
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They voiced a desire for improved conditions to access technology, strengthen capabilities, and gather financial resources, ensuring cost-effective investment in nuclear energy for developing countries.
The roundtable emphasized the importance of the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a key component of the NPT, highlighting its essential role in upholding the treaty's balance and effectiveness. The discussions relayed a unified message that, when managed responsibly and accessed fairly, nuclear technology can be a significant catalyst for inclusive growth, innovation, and the realization of the SDGs.
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During the conference, Deputy Minister Hang and the Vietnamese delegation had discussions with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, UN Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu, as well as high-ranking officials from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Finland, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, and Australia.