Russian lower house speaker backs Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power deal with Vietnam

His remarks were made during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday, as part of Chinh’s official visit from March 22 to 25 at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Mishustin, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Volodin said the project would help lay the foundation for robust economic growth in the years ahead.

His comments came one day after Vietnam and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement to develop the Ninh Thuan 1 plant, marking a major step in bilateral cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The agreement, reached following talks between the two prime ministers in Moscow, is expected to become a new symbol of ties between the two countries.

Vietnam’s law-making National Assembly earlier approved the resumption of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power projects in November 2024, after an eight-year suspension, aiming to strengthen national energy security and meet development needs.

The projects include Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2, with a combined capacity of 4,000 MW, to be built in the former Ninh Thuan Province, now part of Khanh Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam following a national administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1, 2025.

Before the intergovernmental agreement was signed, Vietnam and Russia basically completed negotiations on cooperation for the development of the Ninh Thuan 1 plant.

Beyond cooperation in the nuclear power plant construction, the meeting also focused on measures to ease bottlenecks in economic and trade cooperation, while expanding people-to-people exchanges, strengthening local connectivity, and boosting collaboration in tourism, education, training, and science and technology.

They agreed to enhance exchanges of experience in legislation and parliamentary oversight, facilitate the implementation of bilateral agreements, and promote the signing of new deals aligned with the interests of both countries.

Chinh said his visit aimed to advance agreements reached by senior leaders and further deepen bilateral ties.

He also highlighted the role of the Russian State Duma and its chairman in improving the legal framework and facilitating the implementation of cooperation programs, plans, and projects.

Volodin reaffirmed that Russia considers Vietnam a long-standing friend and a key partner in the Asia-Pacific region, noting strong support among Russian lawmakers for strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership.

He added that the State Duma stands ready to work closely with Vietnam’s National Assembly to effectively implement high-level agreements and further advance bilateral ties.