Vietnam desires IAEA's support in nuclear tech application to COVID-19 fight

The top Vietnamese legislator made the suggestion during a meeting with Rafael Mariano Grossi, general director of the IAEA, held on September 6 as part of his working visit to Austria to attend the fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP5).
During the meeting, Grossi thanked the country, one of important partners of this agency, for its positive contributions in completing a modern laboratory aimed at improving capacity of nations in combating infectious diseases.

In addition to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the agency is currently carrying out a range of activities aimed at supporting countries, including Vietnam, in cancer treatment, water management, and COVID-19 containment effort, Rafael Mariano told NA Chairman Hue.

The IAEA chief therefore welcomed the Vietnamese candidacy to the IAEA Board of Governors for the 2021 to 2023 term and hopes that the nation will continue to make contributions to his agency.

In return, the Vietnamese NA leader hailed the IAEA's role in promoting the application of atomic energy in order to solve global problems, whilst boosting scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field for peaceful purposes and development as a means of ensuring both safety and security in this field.

NA Chairman Hue expressed his appreciation for the IAEA's contributions and support to member countries negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through sharing knowledge. In addition, they have also assisted medical experts involved in radiation medicine, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and training in the use of genetic sequencing to characterise the virus that causes COVID-19.

He went on to congratulate the IAEA on finalising phase one of building a modern laboratory named Yukiya Amano, with a view enhancing capacity in helping countries fight and prevent transboundary zoonotic diseases, along with addressing challenges related to climate change and food safety.

The nation will make financial contributions in phase two of this important project, while applauding the IAEA's co-operation initiatives with UN agencies to promote the application of nuclear science in climate change response. This is along with health care, agriculture, as well as clean energy transition research and efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security, according to NA Chairman Hue.

He therefore proposed that the IAEA share experience and provide technical assistance in order to fine-tune the legal system for effective management and the application of atomic energy for economic development, along with environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

The top Vietnamese legislator suggested that the IAEA support the nation in participating in important IAEA initiatives, such as the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) and connecting the IAEA's activities with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the NA of Vietnam. In particular, those of the Working Group on Science and Technology of the IPU to increase the participation of parliamentarians in the field of science and technology for peaceful purposes.

As part of this occasion, the IAEA Director General announced that his agency will provide three sets of mobile PCR testing equipment and a large number of biological products, worth over €470,000, to Vietnam.

These devices have been researched and developed by the IAEA on the basis of the application of nuclear technology for the accurate diagnosis and early detection of different viruses.

NA Chairman Hue expressed thanks and appreciation for the IAEA's valuable support for the nation in more effectively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.