The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will provide Vietnam with three sets of portable PCR equipment and a large number of biological products, worth EUR470,000 (US$556,573) which were developed by the IAEA on the basis of application of nuclear technology for accurate diagnosis and early detection of different viruses. 

The IAEA’s Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi (L) and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: TTXVN

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the IAEA’s Director General shared information with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at the meeting on September 6 as part of his trip to Austria to attend the fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP5)

The National Assembly Chairman appreciated the IAEA’s donation and believed this support will help Vietnam respond more effectively to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hue highly appreciated the IAEA's role and contributions in promoting the application of atomic energy in solving global problems, scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field for peaceful purposes and development, ensuring safety and security in the field.

He said the IAEA has made many contributions to supporting Covid-19-hit member countries through sharing knowledge and sending its medical experts in the field of radiation medicine and therapy, nuclear medicine and imaging, training in the use of genetic sequencing to characterize the virus that causes Covid-19.

The Vietnamese leader congratulated the IAEA on completing the first phase of a modern laboratory named Yukiya Amano to improve capacity in supporting countries to fight and prevent transboundary zoonotic diseases and addressing challenges related to climate change and food safety. He affirmed Vietnam will contribute financially to the second phase of this important project.

Hue asked the IAEA to share experiences and provide technical assistance in perfecting the legal system to effectively manage and apply atomic energy in economic development, along with environmental protection and combat climate change, as well as cooperation activities on water and environment.

He expected the agency will support Vietnam in technology transfer, training, and capacity building in the application of nuclear technology in healthcare and Covid-19 prevention and control.

He hoped that the IAEA would help Vietnam to participate in IAEA initiatives such as the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action Project, and activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Working Group on Science and Technology.