(VOVworld) - The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday passed a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with Vietnam, paving the way for Washington to expand relations with Hanoi. 

The deal was signed by US State Secretary John Kerry and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh last October on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Brunei. It was later approved by President Barack Obama in February 2014, and is currently waiting for Senate approval.

In response to the foresaid agreement, activists against nuclear weapon proliferation and some US lawmakers expressed concern about the pact which does not ban Vietnam from enriching uranium or recycling plutonium- the capacities can be used to develop nuclear weapons.

Vietnam has signed a non-legally binding memorandum of understanding with the US, pointing out that Hanoi has no intention of seeking those capabilities.

The Vietnam-US civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, known as Nuclear Cooperation Agreement 123, will allow American firms to penetrate Vietnam’s expanding market for nuclear power development.

According to the US Department of Commerce, the pact will help Vietnam open its doors for US companies to increase nuclear exports by up to 20 billion USD, and generate more than 50,000 new jobs for American workers with high salaries.