An image of a nuclear power factory in Viet Nam. — Photo dienhatnhan.com.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — US President Barack Obama early on February 25 approved the proposed cooperation agreement between the US Government and the Government of Viet Nam on peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

According to the White House, Obama wrote that he had considered the proposed agreement along with the views, recommendations and statements of the interested agencies.

"I have determined that the performance of the agreement will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security," wrote Obama.

The agreement will be considered by the US Congress within 90 days from the day it was signed by Obama, and will come into effect if no objections are raised.

At the ceremony where the agreement was signed on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Brunei in October last year, Viet Nam agreed not to make enriched or recycled uranium, an important step in the process of making nuclear weapons.

According to the Voice of Viet Nam Radio, experts said Viet Nam's nuclear power market ranks the second in the East Asia region, behind China. Viet Nam expects nuclear power to meet more than 10 per cent of the domestic demand by 2030. — VNS