Mr. Pham Dzung, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs chaired the event. Also attending the conference were Mr. Bùi Thanh Hà, Vice Chairman of the Committee, and representatives of ministries and agencies as well as leaders from some departments of the Committee. 

Addressing the event, Mr. Pham Dzung stressed that the collection of comments to the draft Ordinance on amendments and supplements to some articles of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion must comply with the provisions of Vietnam’s Constitution and law, and take Marxist-Leninist philosophy, Ho Chi Minh ideology, and the Communist Party of Vietnam’s policies and guidelines as the foundation. In addition, the Ordinance drafting must be consistent with international conventions to which Vietnam is a party, especially those on safegarding human rights.

He also suggested revising some concepts, scope and objects of adjustment, shortcomings in management, the hierarchy of management at the grassroots level so that they are suitable to the characteristics of the current religious situation, the social activities of religions and religious practices of foreigners.

Mr. Pham Dzung Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs speaks at the conference

Participants gave many comments to the draft Ordinance and agreed with the revised contents of the draft. They proposed the drafting be with consultation of religious management experience from other countries in the world and report on all problems during the implementation process of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion in recent years, and a new guiding decree will be drafted in parallel with the revised Ordinance once enacted.

At the conference, Mr. Bui Thanh Ha announced the decision to establish the Drafting Board and the Editorial Team for the revision of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion.

Mr. Bùi Thanh Hà, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, announces the decision to establish the Drafting Board and the Editorial Team

On behalf of the Drafting Board, Mr. Phạm Dzung acknowledged all the practical comments of delegates. He also suggested they report the outcomes of conference to their leaders so that the contribution of ideas to the amendment of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion is effectively implemented on schedule.

Trí Dũng