Chairman of GCRA Vũ Hoài Bắc speaks at the conference

The conference chaired by Chairman of the GCRA Vũ Hoài Bắc saw the presence of Deputy Minister of the Home Affairs Ministry Vũ Chiến Thắng, Brigadier Lê Kim Cương, Director General of the Defense Ministry's General Department II, and representatives of the Central Commission for Mass Mobilization, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and the Ministries of Public Security, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Culture, Sports & Tourism, Natural Resources & Environment, and Information & Communications.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng speaks at the conference

The conference drew seven presentations on key issues including current foreign policies of the U.S. related to human right and religion in Vietnam, religious affairs in ethnic minority areas, new progress in Vietnam - Vatican relation, current practice of spiritual tourism, Protestant practices in Mong ethnic community, new religious phenomena and legal provisions relating to belief & religion-related land and construction in the amended Law of Land 2013.

Addressing at the event, Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng spoke highly of the close coordination of ministries, departments and local authorities in the state administration on belief & religion, and efforts of the GCRA and local religious committees in maintaining stability of the religious life in localities over the past year. The deputy minister also asked the GCRA to continue collaborating with ministries, departments and local agencies with focuses on external religious affairs in order to help remove Vietnam from the US’s special watch list on religious freedom; strengthening the efficiency in state administration of belief & religion relating to the construction of spiritual tourism areas, religious practices of foreigners in Vietnam, missionary activities through cyberspace, and the communication work of state policies and laws on belief & religion and the Decree 95 dated December 29, 2023 detailing articles and measures to implement the law on belief & religion 2016.

Nguyên Hải