Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the plenary summit of the World Atomic Week Forum 2025 with the title “From a New Technological Rollout to a New Worldview” at the Atom Museum in Moscow, the Russian Federation, on 25 September.
The “World Atomic Week Forum 2025” was attended by international leaders including the President of the Russian Federation, the high-level Myanmar delegation led by the Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and the President of Belarus, as well as senior government officials and heads of nuclear energy organizations, world-class experts, executives of major companies, leaders from the CIS, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and delegates from 105 countries.
The Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, together with international leaders, senior government officials, and other attendees, were welcomed by Mr Alexey Likhachev, ROSATOM Director-General of the Russian Federation, and officials.
At the ceremony, ROSATOM Director-General Mr Alexey Likhachev made an opening speech, whereas the President of the Russian Federation delivered a keynote address.
The President of Belarus, the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the IAEA Director-General, as well as senior government officials from various countries, heads of nuclear energy organizations, and world-class experts in attendance, delivered speeches on the occasion.
On the occasion, the Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar delivered a speech. He said: The global energy demand is increasing annually, and according to the report of the International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2025 it is projected to rise by 2.2 per cent compared to 2024. At present, about nine per cent of global energy needs are being met by nuclear power. Under the World Net-Zero Carbon Emissions initiative, plans are being implemented to use renewable energy in combination with nuclear power. Nuclear energy is recognized as a form of green energy with low carbon emissions and the ability to provide a stable electricity supply.
In addition, nuclear technologies in agriculture help support safer food production that is more resilient to climate change impacts. Programmes such as genetic crop mutation breeding have produced crops that are resistant to drought, pests, and diseases. Likewise, sterile insect techniques have reduced the need for pesticides, helped protect ecosystems, and contributed to sustainable long-term harvests. For agriculture-based countries like ours, these advancements provide significant benefits.
In the field of medicine, radioisotopes and nuclear imaging technologies have transformed methods of disease detection and treatment. Early diagnosis of cancers, along with targeted therapies through radiotherapy, has saved millions of lives each year and greatly improved the quality of life for countless people. Nuclear medicine thus stands as a prime example of how the power of science can serve humanity.
While the peaceful use of nuclear energy across various sectors brings great benefits to humankind, there are also challenges. It is essential to properly manage radioactive waste to avoid harming natural ecosystems, to prevent radiation leaks from nuclear materials, and to ensure reliable safety systems that can avert nuclear accidents.
Myanmar, in its efforts to utilize nuclear energy, has since 2022 signed memorandums of understanding on cooperation with the Russian Federation and the State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM). This marked the beginning of laying the foundation for the country’s nuclear energy development.
In February 2023, a Nuclear Technology Information Centre was opened in Yangon. Through this initiative, greater public and media awareness and understanding of Russia’s extensive experience and advanced expertise in nuclear industries and technologies have been promoted.
In addition, Terms of Reference (ToR) for cooperation in developing national-level nuclear infrastructure were signed between the Russian Federation and Myanmar’s Ministry of Science and Technology. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Russian Federation and ROSATOM, the Ministry of Science and Technology organized the Science Fair 2023 and the Science Fair 2024 at the Nuclear Technology Information Centre and the Yangon Technological University (YTU). These events provided Myanmar students with extensive knowledge and understanding of nuclear technology.
Under the scholarship programmes arranged by ROSATOM, both sides cooperate in the sustainable development of human resources in nuclear energy and nuclear technology, including work requirements of the Small Modular Reactor (SMR).
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is implementing the nuclear energy plan aligned with three work pillars and three work phases under the timeline of ROSATOM in accord with the guidance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since its membership in 1957, Myanmar has been participating in the technical cooperation of the IAEA and cooperating with the IAEA to provide the funds and machinery to the IAEA, upgrade infrastructures, participate in technological cooperation in the development of human resources, conduct technological training courses and join technological cooperation projects.
The Myanmar delegation attended the nuclear law workshop organized by the IAEA in 2024 and revised Myanmar’s nuclear law.
In 2025, delegates from 18 countries, including Myanmar, attended a regional cooperation training course on the siting of small-scale nuclear power plants within the implementation of national nuclear programmes. The course was organized for international experts under the leadership of ROSATOM Technical Academy and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). As an IAEA member state, Myanmar has long made efforts to enable the use of nuclear applications in the country, but progress has been delayed for various reasons. Since 2022, Myanmar has been working with Russia to step up efforts, and with Russia’s strong support, significant progress has been achieved.
As nuclear energy is a form of green energy with low carbon emissions, Myanmar aims to generate stable electricity from nuclear power and utilize it to drive national economic development.
Myanmar will work to further develop the use of nuclear technology in the health, agriculture, and industrial sectors. To ensure continuous human resource development, universities in Russia and Myanmar have signed memorandums of understanding for educational cooperation and are carrying out joint programmes.
As an initial step, Myanmar is working closely with ROSATOM to establish a small nuclear power plant. The country also intends to cooperate with the Russian Federation to develop the necessary basic infrastructure and expand activities in other related sectors.
I earnestly request the Russian Federation and ROSATOM to continue providing all possible assistance to Myanmar in developing the necessary nuclear infrastructure, human resources, and other essential tasks for establishing a small nuclear power plant in the country.
Likewise, I sincerely appeal to the IAEA to continue supporting Myanmar in human resource development as the nation implements its nuclear energy programme. On behalf of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, I also wish to express our desire to cooperate with the countries participating in the World Atomic Week Forum in relevant sectors relating to nuclear technology. Furthermore, Myanmar invites enhanced friendship and cooperation with partner countries.
The “World Atomic Week Forum 2025” is being organized by Russia’s State Nuclear Corporation, ROSATOM, from 25 to 28 September. It aims to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear technology worldwide. The forum’s programmes will be attended by national leaders from countries implementing nuclear programmes, top global experts, executives from major corporations, leaders from CIS, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as representatives from 105 countries. Discussions will cover topics such as clean energy, advanced healthcare, environmental sustainability, industrial innovation, geopolitics, digital technology, logistics, and science and education. On 27 and 28 September, the youth programmes will be prioritized, including the international science and education awareness competition “Knowledge. First”, as a platform for international dialogue led by the Russian Knowledge Society.
MNA/TTA
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