Vietnam regards the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) as an obligation of a responsible member of the United Nations (UN) as well as an opportunity to introduce the country’s consistent policies, efforts and achievements in protecting human rights, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung.

The exchange conference on religious affairs between the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the Cambodian Ministry of Religions and Cults was successful concluded on January 15 in Lam Dong province.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee in Lam Dong province Phan Văn Đa hosted on January 14 a reception for a visiting delegation of the Cambodian Ministry of Cults & Religion.

Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Bùi Thanh Hà received a delegation from the Methodist Theological School from Ohio (MTSO) led by Prof. Park Joon Sik.

A pagoda of Vietnamese people in Most city of Ustecky region, the Czech Republic, was inaugurated on January 5, becoming the community’s first spiritual cultural centre officially recognised by local authorities.

A delegation from the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee (LFNC) paid a visit to Hoi An ancient town on December 22.

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) in collaboration with the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee held on December 21 a meeting to share experiences in religious affairs between Vietnam and Lao border localities in Thua Thien Hue province.

The representative committee of the Islamic community in Ninh Thuan province in collaboration with the Humanitarian Care Malaysia Berhad (MyCARE) held from December 7-8 a workshop on Arabic teaching methods and skills in the province.

Chairman of the municipal Committee for Religious Affairs Ngô Khôi hosted on December 10 a reception for a visiting delegation led by Consul General of the United States Pamela Pontius from Ho Chi Minh city.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee in Binh Duong Đặng Minh Hưng hosted on November 26 a reception for a visiting delegation led by Secretary of the Cambodian Ministry of Cults and Religion Khenh Hang Huon.

Built on successes of previous Christmas concerts, Goethe Institute will hold on December 12 a charitable concert for supporting disadvantaged people at Cua Bac church in Hanoi.

Vietnam has implemented 175 out of the 182 recommendations by the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) second-cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which it accepted in June 2014, heard a seminar in Hanoi on December 3.

An opening ceremony for a winter meditation course was held on December 1 at Phuoc Son Monastery in Dong Nai province’ Bien Hoa city.

A delegation led by Most Venerable Yoshimizu Daichi, former Chairman of the Japanese Pure-Land Buddhist Church, visited the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Southern Office in Ho Chi Minh City on November 28.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Huỳnh Đức Thơ hosted on November 26 a reception for visiting Archbishop Marek Zalewski - Special Envoy of Vatican to Viet Nam.