U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
For Immediate Release May 8, 2014
MEDIA NOTE
Vietnam Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation
On May 8, 2014, President Obama submitted to Congress for its review an Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
Upon entry into force, following the statutorily required Congressional review, the Agreement (also called a 123 Agreement after the relevant section of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act) will establish the legal framework for the United States to engage in civil nuclear cooperation with Vietnam under agreed nonproliferation conditions and controls.
This Agreement reflects the strength and breadth of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, which President Obama and Vietnamese President Sang launched in July 2013 in Washington, DC. The Agreement will establish a firm foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation in civil nuclear energy and will support Vietnam’s aspirations for a peaceful nuclear energy program with the highest standards of safety, nonproliferation safeguards, and security.
