Vietnam and Russia Finalize Historic Nuclear Power Agreement During Prime Minister Chinh’s Moscow Summit

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin sign a historic agreement to build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam during a Moscow state visit.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 4:46 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from VnExpress International

A Strategic Leap in Peaceful Nuclear Energy Cooperation

The governments of Vietnam and Russia have officially entered into a high-stakes agreement that will see Russian expertise utilized to build a nuclear power plant on Vietnamese soil. During a series of high-level talks in Moscow, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Mishustin, hailed the signing as a symbolic milestone for bilateral relations. Both leaders emphasized that the project is strictly for peaceful purposes and represents a shared vision for energy security in an increasingly volatile global market. This agreement revitalizes previous discussions regarding nuclear infrastructure, positioning it as a centerpiece of the modern diplomatic and economic alliance between the two nations.

Diversifying the Energy and Petroleum Portfolio

Beyond the nuclear sector, the summit resulted in several new cooperation agreements spanning the oil, gas, and transport industries. The two Prime Ministers noted that existing joint ventures in the petroleum sector have already contributed significantly to national energy reserves. By effectively implementing previously signed protocols, the new agreements seek to optimize the conversion of crude resources while exploring "new energy" frontiers. This includes a joint commitment to study renewable and clean energy alternatives, aligning Russia’s technical capacity with Vietnam’s ongoing green transition and sustainable development targets.

Elevating Science and Technology as a Bilateral Pillar

A major outcome of the March 23 session was the consensus that science and technology should be elevated to a primary pillar of the bilateral partnership. The leaders agreed to promote a series of exchange activities throughout 2026, focusing on potential high-growth sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and information technology. Prime Minister Chinh also advocated for expanded research within the framework of the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center. Furthermore, the Vietnamese administration encouraged Russian participation in the design and construction of metro systems for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, seeking to leverage Russian engineering for Vietnam's urban modernization projects.