Government Committee for Religious Affairs receives the Lao Steering Committee on Human Rights delegation

10/01/2014

On September 30th, 2014, at the headquarters of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA), Mr. Dương Ngọc Tấn had a reception with the Lao National Steering Committee on Human Rights led by Major General Công-thoong Phông-vị-chịt, Deputy Minister of Security, Commissioner of the Lao National Steering Committee on Human Rights.

On behalf of the delegation, Major General Công-thoong Phông-vị-chịt, Deputy Minister of Security, Commissioner of the Lao National Steering Committee on Human Rights thanked the GCRA for its warm welcome. He informed the hosts about the delegation’s working sessions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Committee for Ethnic Affairs… and exchanged on several issues relating to human rights.

At the reception, Mr. Dương Ngọc Tấn, Vice-Chairman of the GCRA affirmed that Vietnam highly appreciated the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between the Parties and States of Vietnam and Laos in the cause of building and defending of the country, especially the cooperation relationship between the GCRA and the Central Committee of Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC). The implementation of a cooperation agreement between two agencies on state religious affairs have obtained encouraging results through exchanges of visits, organization of religious conferences for religious administration in border provinces of two countries and training of LFNC officials.

Mr. Dương Ngọc Tấn briefed the guests on the religious situation in Vietnam as well as the guidelines and policies of the Party and State on belief and religion over the past time. According to Mr. Tấn, currently, there are 37 religious organizations and 01 religious sect belonging to 13 religions in Vietnam recognized by the State with over 24 million religious followers (about 27% of overall population), 83,000 dignitaries and 25,000 worshipping places. Mr. Tấn also stated that the Vietnamese Party and State always respects and guarantees the right to freedom of belief and religion for citizens and thanks to the fine policies of the Party, State and Government of Vietnam, there have been many positive changes in Vietnam’s religious life, the religions have co-existed in harmony, and religious followers have actively joined in the construction and defense of the country.

Some images at the reception: