Head of Vietnam’s Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Chien Thang (L) and Cambodian Minister of Cults and Religion Him Chhem (Source: VNA) Phnom Penh (VNA) – Head of Vietnam’s GovernmentCommittee for Religious Affairs Vu Chien Thang said he wishes that the Cambodian Ministry of Cults and Religion would createfavourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese following Buddhism and Caodaismin the country to join religious activities.
He made the statement at his talks with Cambodian Minister of Cults andReligion Him Chhem in Phnom Penh on April 2, which forms part of his workingvisit to Cambodia from April 1-6.
Chhem expressed thanks to the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers,Government, and people for helping Cambodia escape the Pol Pot genocidal regimein the past, saying the future generation needs to remember this and worktogether to preserve solidarity.
He told that Cambodia now has two Buddhist schools, auniversity, and affiliates in the provinces of Kampong Chhnang, Battambang, andKampong Cham.
Cambodia is now home to more than 5,000 pagodas and 700,000Buddhist followers. The most popular religions in the country are Buddhism, Islamism,Catholicism, and nine smaller religions, including Caodaism and Hoa HaoBuddhism, he said, stating that the Cambodian government hopes that allreligions can live in peace together.
Thang informed his host about major religious activities inVietnam over the years, saying that the Vietnamese Government assists the workof religions in holding events to promote people-to-people and culturaldiplomacy.
Religious institutions in Vietnam have been makingincreasingly positive contributions to national construction and defence, hesaid, adding that there are 16 active religions working in 43 organisations,with 24 million followers – accounting for one third of the total population,nearly 30,000 places of worship, and 14 religious training establishments.
The guest affirmed that Vietnam is a multi-religion nation andthat the Government will always offer all possible support to religions.
During a visit to the Vatican in September 2018, permanentDeputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh held a working session with Pope Francis.Both sides upheld the spirit of dialogue between religions and states andagreed to upgrade bilateral diplomatic ties from thelevel of non-resident envoy to resident envoy in the near future.
He said Vietnam has invited Cambodia to jointhe third 2019 United Nations Day of Vesak scheduled for May at the Tam ChucBuddhist Cultural Centre in the northern province of Ha Nam, following twosuccessful editions in 2008 and 2014.
The same day, the Vietnamese delegation paida courtesy call to Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An, who is also a high-rankingrepresentative of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Thang briefed the host about the outcomes ofa meeting on promoting religious cooperation between Vietnamese and Cambodian provincessharing the border in 2018.
Men Sam An said the revival of religion inCambodia began following the January 7, 1979 victory when Cambodian people andVietnamese voluntary soldiers toppled the Pol Pot regime.
She said both Vietnam and Cambodia will alwayssupport and promote religious freedom, however only if all its activities remainin line with the law.
During the stay, the delegation also paidcourtesy calls and held working sessions with religious dignitaries, including SupremePatriarch of the Thammayut order Bour Kry, Cambodia’s Caodaism leader. –VNA
He made the statement at his talks with Cambodian Minister of Cults andReligion Him Chhem in Phnom Penh on April 2, which forms part of his workingvisit to Cambodia from April 1-6.
Chhem expressed thanks to the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers,Government, and people for helping Cambodia escape the Pol Pot genocidal regimein the past, saying the future generation needs to remember this and worktogether to preserve solidarity.
He told that Cambodia now has two Buddhist schools, auniversity, and affiliates in the provinces of Kampong Chhnang, Battambang, andKampong Cham.
Cambodia is now home to more than 5,000 pagodas and 700,000Buddhist followers. The most popular religions in the country are Buddhism, Islamism,Catholicism, and nine smaller religions, including Caodaism and Hoa HaoBuddhism, he said, stating that the Cambodian government hopes that allreligions can live in peace together.
Thang informed his host about major religious activities inVietnam over the years, saying that the Vietnamese Government assists the workof religions in holding events to promote people-to-people and culturaldiplomacy.
Religious institutions in Vietnam have been makingincreasingly positive contributions to national construction and defence, hesaid, adding that there are 16 active religions working in 43 organisations,with 24 million followers – accounting for one third of the total population,nearly 30,000 places of worship, and 14 religious training establishments.
The guest affirmed that Vietnam is a multi-religion nation andthat the Government will always offer all possible support to religions.
During a visit to the Vatican in September 2018, permanentDeputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh held a working session with Pope Francis.Both sides upheld the spirit of dialogue between religions and states andagreed to upgrade bilateral diplomatic ties from thelevel of non-resident envoy to resident envoy in the near future.
He said Vietnam has invited Cambodia to jointhe third 2019 United Nations Day of Vesak scheduled for May at the Tam ChucBuddhist Cultural Centre in the northern province of Ha Nam, following twosuccessful editions in 2008 and 2014.
The same day, the Vietnamese delegation paida courtesy call to Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An, who is also a high-rankingrepresentative of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Thang briefed the host about the outcomes ofa meeting on promoting religious cooperation between Vietnamese and Cambodian provincessharing the border in 2018.
Men Sam An said the revival of religion inCambodia began following the January 7, 1979 victory when Cambodian people andVietnamese voluntary soldiers toppled the Pol Pot regime.
She said both Vietnam and Cambodia will alwayssupport and promote religious freedom, however only if all its activities remainin line with the law.
During the stay, the delegation also paidcourtesy calls and held working sessions with religious dignitaries, including SupremePatriarch of the Thammayut order Bour Kry, Cambodia’s Caodaism leader. –VNA
VNA
