Vietnam’s prime minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged Russia to help the Southeast Asian nation with the development of a nuclear power programme as the government in Hanoi bids to meet projected power demand.

Chinh made the statement at a meeting on 13 January with Alexey Likhachev, chief executive officer of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, the third meeting between the duo in six months.

Press reports in Vietnam’s state media quoted Chinh as saying Rosatom can help Vietnam with nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and socioeconomic growth, such as technology transfer and training.