As traditional natural resources near exhaustion, many countries worldwide have turned to nuclear energy as it helps boost socio-economic development, ensure energy security and ease environmental pollution, as heard at a workshop in Phan Rang-Thap Cham city in the central province of Ninh Thuan on August 31. Vietnam has considered nuclear power a significant source of energy for its future, said participants at the event. As such, along with a master plan on nuclear power development, the country has carried out a host of solutions to prepare for building nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan province with safety as the top priority. At the workshop, domestic and foreign experts, scientists and managers also discussed nuclear power development in Japan and Russia and the potential for international cooperation in this field. Daito Michio, the Japanese Embassy’s Counsellor, said Japan’s nuclear power policy advocates stable energy supply with safety first and low costs through economic efficiency improvement along with environmental protection. There is no energy source that is preeminent in stable supply, environmental impact and safety, he said, stressing the need to count on characteristics of the energy source to set up a supply and demand structure. Japan will continue implementing energy-saving methods and improving the output of renewal energies as much as possible by 2030, the counsellor said. He noted that nuclear power will make up 20-22 percent of the country’s total electricity. Delegates to the event are scheduled to visit the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power plant construction sites on September 1.-VNA