International partners must reach a consensus to ensure nuclear security, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at the close of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on April 13, local time.

In his opinion, cooperation needs to take into account socio-economic conditions and the level of the application of nuclear energy in each country, especially developing ones.

PM Dung also reiterated the importance of consolidating the UN’s central role and upholding IAEA’s role in boosting the application, security and safety of nuclear energy as well as increasing the support of developed countries, and international, regional and non-governmental organisations to developing countries.

Leaders of participating states agreed that ensuring nuclear security and safety is a key responsibility for each nation but also requires close international cooperation.

They called upon all countries to help each other when necessary and support the goals of current international agreements on nuclear security, including the revised Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Treaty.

The leaders also reiterated the important role of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in nuclear security, pledging they will continue to cooperate to facilitate IAEA activities.

During its 50 years of operation, the IAEA has made consistent efforts in pursuit of the goal of strengthening and expanding the application of nuclear energy for peace and prosperity as well as ensuring nuclear security, combating the proliferation of nuclear weapons and boosting international cooperation on the issue, said PM Dung.

Affirming Vietnam’s support for the IAEA’s activities, PM Dung proposed the agency continue coordinating the joint programmes and activities of countries worldwide, including cooperation on the implementation of its Nuclear Security Plan for 2010-2013.

He also asked IAEA to increase its support to developing countries in building their nuclear security and safety infrastructure and raising their nuclear control capacity./.