Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc speaks at the discussion. Photo: VOV

The discussion was a side event of the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The Deputy Minister reaffirmed Vietnam's commitments at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26), especially the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.  He appreciated the potential and benefits of nuclear power, but said that the development of nuclear power needs to ensure international standards on nuclear security and safety and compliance with regulations on nuclear inspections.

The official also affirmed that Vietnam has seriously and fully fulfilled its national obligations to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and pledged to continue supporting the agency’s central role in the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc meets with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Volker Turk. Photo: VOV

On the same day, Ngoc met and worked with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Volker Turk, and heads of delegations from the UK, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Romania, Slovenia and Australia to discuss bilateral issues, as well as international and regional situations. He affirmed Vietnam's consistent policy in promoting the balance of the pillars of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, emphasizing the right of nations to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. He said that Vietnam is always ready to cooperate and have open dialogue with other countries at international forums, especially the UN, and hopes that they will support its candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council in the 2023-2025 term.