At the reception

At the event, Political Affairs Counselor Amy Patel stated that her visit aimed to continue discussing the cooperative mechanism between the U.S. and Vietnam in the field of religion, based on results of the meeting between the U.S. State Department delegation to Vietnam and the Ministry of Home Affairs and the GCRA in Hanoi in last August.

Speaking with the guests, GCRA Vice Chairman Nguyễn Tiến Trọng stated that the GRCA supported the cooperation based on six recommendations of the U.S. State Department at the meeting in August 2024. The GCRA always stays ready to welcome delegations of U.S. diplomat and organizations to observe religious life in Vietnam or hold exchanges on policies and laws on religion in the spirit of spirit of goodwill, respecting for objectivity and complying with Vietnamese laws.

He also affirmed the State’s consistent guidelines and policy on respecting and ensuring everyone’s right to religious freedom which was institutionalized in law and guaranteed in practice. In the process of developing laws related to religion, Vietnamese authorities have publicly informed, and collected comments from people, experts, international organizations and embassies including U.S. scholars and organizations. In implementing the religious laws, the state agencies have paid due attention to foster the understanding of religious organizations and people on the state’s new religious laws by promoting dissemination and propagation activities.

The official stated that, not only Vietnam, every country never compromises with groups that take advantage of religious activities to threaten the political stability, social order and safety of that country. Therefore, organizations and individuals who take advantage of the religious freedom policy to carry out propagandas against the Party and State of Vietnam or go against the nation’s fine customs and traditions or engage in terrorist activities will be handled by the State laws, regardless of religious factors.

Since the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion 2016, Vietnamese authorities have recognized four more religious organizations, issued the registration certificate for religious operation to one organization, and approved the establishment of three more religious training facilities. In addition, thousands of Vietnamese religious groups and over 60 religious groups of foreigners were granted with registration for religious activities. Therefore, the comment that Vietnamese government hindered the registration for establishing new religious organizations is not objective and untrue.

The number of religious worshipping places in Vietnam granted with land use rights certificates is currently about 70%, and expected to reach 100% in the coming time by implementing the revised Land Law, affirming Vietnam’s efforts and commitment to implementing and ensuring civil rights including religious freedom.

Vice Chairman Nguyễn Tiến Trọng asked U.S. diplomatic agencies and organizations to objectively look at the religious situation in Vietnam based on official and verified information, as well as asked the U.S. Department of State to early remove Vietnam from the special watch list on religious freedom (SWL).

Posing for group photo

NL