The expert delegation consisted of Mr. MM Philippe Buchet - Joint Research Center of the European Commission (JRC), Mr. Michael Ian Thornton - JRC, Mr. Pascal Daures - JRC, Mr. Francesco Marelli- Institute for Juridical Research and Inter-regional Crime of the United Nations, Ms. Marian De Bruijn- Institute for Juridical Research and Inter-regional Crime of the United Nations, Mr. Charles Massey – Consultant of Asian region on Megaports.
The experts have introduced the Project on establishing the advanced Center for Chemistry, Biology, Radiation and Nuclear (CBRN) in Southeast Asia region. CBRN operates as a network in the region in order to establish the coordination mechanism among countries, develop, update the shared database, establish the long-term and sustainable mechanism in prevention of risks relating to CBRN, and especially improve abilities on security and safety in this field. Each country will establish a national working group, consisting of all experts from agencies and branches relating to CBRN field. The working group is assigned with tasks to have assessment on CBRN’s risks of countries and identify cooperation demands.
Ms. Marian De Bruijn said that, before working with Vietnam, the EU expert delegation in Southeast Asia region worked with focal points of some countries in the region in order to introduce basically on the contents and form of implementing the Project and at the same time collect information of demands, characteristics as well as approaches to the Project of each country.
EU experts said that when participating in the Project, in addition to becoming a member of the international network on CBRN, nations will have opportunities to capacities on CBRN risk assessment, strengthen cooperation at national, regional and international level. Then it is possible to identify real demands of nations in CBRN field. This project also helps member countries to fully develop capacities of research units as well as professional skills of countries in CBRN field.
In the meeting, Deputy Minister Lê Đình Tiến expressed his pleasure to meet with the EU’s expert delegation to work in MOST. The Deputy Minister said that Vietnam also paid special attention to the issue of safety and security for radiation and nuclear as well as biology, chemistry. Currently in Vietnam, Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission directly under MOST is assigned to be in charge of activities relating to radiation safety, nuclear safety, and security of radiation source, nuclear materials and units. This Commission is also selected to be the focal point of this initiative.
Deputy Minister Lê Đình Tiến highly appreciated and affirmed MOST’s supports to the Project. The Deputy Minister hoped that the Project would assist ASEAN countries, including Vietnam to strengthen capacities of controlling and ensuring the security and safety in fields of chemistry, biology, radiation and nuclear safety and removing harmful risks for people and environment.