Vietnam and Cambodia, boasting similarities in the practice of Buddhism, should share experience with each other in building the great national solidarity to create favourable conditions for their people to exercise the right to freedom of belief and religion, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra said on July 31.
The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Constitution, and protects the rights and respect of people’s interests, along with the rights and legitimate interests of one another.
A Vietnamese delegation paid a working visit to the US from October 10-22 during which Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang called on both sides to increase constructive dialogue to clarify religious issues and avoid misunderstandings that may impact bilateral relations.
A ceremony to commemorate Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, who set himself on fire 60 years ago to protest against the repression of Buddhists by the American-supported Saigon Government, was held at Viet Nam Quoc Tu pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on June 7.
The Party, since taking up the leadership of the revolution in Vietnam, has followed a consistent policy on ensuring the freedom of belief and religion, strengthening the national solidarity bloc and uniting followers of all religions as well as secular people in the national construction and safeguarding process.
In their recently released international religious freedom reports, the US Department of State and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), on one hand recognised Vietnam’s certain progress in promoting religious freedom and citing some official information from Government agencies of Vietnam but on the other still includes inobjective assessments based on unverified and inaccurate information about the reality in Vietnam.
The consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State in ensuring people's right to freedom of belief has been enshrined in the country's Constitutions issued in 1946, 1959, 1980, 1992 and 2013, creating favourable conditions for all religions in the country.
Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring people's freedom to belief and religion as well as the equality among religions, while promoting cultural and moral values and resources of religions for the country’s development, stated Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai.
The US’s decision to put Vietnam in the special watch list on religious freedom is based on unobjective assessment and inaccurate information regarding the situation of freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam, Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry’s regular press briefing on December 15.
Religions have never had such favourable conditions for their activities in Vietnam like now, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang stressed in a recent writing.
Vietnam wishes to learn from Cuba’s experience in managing relations with the Catholic Church and the Vatican and expanding bilateral cooperation and information exchange in religious affairs, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Chien Thang has said.
Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of protecting and promoting human rights, respecting and ensuring the right to religious and belief freedom, which is clearly stipulated in the country’s Constitution and laws, and is enforced in reality, deputy spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Dang Hung Viet said.
A delegation from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs led by its head Vu Chien Thang recently visited Russia to share experience in State management over religious affairs with local agencies and organisations.
Under-Secretary for the Holy See’s Relations with States Antoine Camilleri met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and senior officials of Vietnam in Hanoi on January 18, affirming that Pope Francis and the Holy See always want Vietnam – the Holy See relations to further develop.
More than 800 Buddhist dignitaries and followers gathered at the ninth Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha for the 2017-2022 tenure that opened in the city’s District 10 on November 7.
The 2016 International Religious Freedom Annual Report of the US State Department still included some unobjective assessments and cited wrong information about Vietnam, according to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.
The Vatican and Pope Francis always wish that relations between the Vatican and Vietnam will increasingly develop, Under-Secretary for Relations with States Antoine Camilleri has said.
The Party and State always ensure the right to religious freedom of people in the northwestern region, helping them practice their religions and beliefs in line with law.
