The year-end conference for reviewing the performance of the central government body in charge of state management on religion 2018 and mapping out its plan of activities was held on January 29.
The one-day event was chaired by the leadership board of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) led by Chairman Vũ Chiến Thắng and attended by all GCRA’s officials and employees.
Distinguished guests at the conference included Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyễn Trọng Thừa and representatives of the home affairs ministry’s departments and units.
Chairman Vũ Chiến Thắng speaks at the conference
As reviewed at the conference, in 2018, the government religious committee has fulfilled all assigned tasked, including the dissemination and implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion and its guiding Decree 162 taking effect since January 2018. Religious practices of followers and religious affairs have been carried out in accordance with religious charters and state laws.
The GCRA has closely worked with concerning ministries and agencies for meeting legitimate needs of faith practices by religious followers and organizations, as well as addressing religious issues, especially religion-related land and construction.
Religions have been encouraged to get involved in social, charitable campaigns and movements launched by state authorities at various levels for supporting the disadvantaged, ensuring social stability and sustainable development.
Deputy Minister Nguyễn Trọng Thừa addresses the event
The year-end conference also pointed out remaining issues and limitations, such as inadequate policies and discrepancies for ensuring consistency and efficiency in the state management on religion, as well as the state management on unrecognized religious groups and new religious sects that need to be better addressed in the coming time, etc.
For successfully implementing assigned tasks in 2019, Chairman Vũ Chiến Thắng asked GCRA’s officials and employees to strive for strengthening the inspection of the implementation of policies and laws on belief and religion, completing the draft decree on sanction of violations in the field of belief and religion 2016, timely addressing emerging religious issues, and promoting exchanges in religious affairs with ASEAN countries, etc.
Addressing the event Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyễn Trọng Thừa praised the government religious committee’ achievements in its work 2018, especially proposals and recommendations submitted to the Government and the Home Affairs Ministry for timely solving new religious issues. He also asked the Government Committee on Religious Affairs to continue strengthening its organizational structure and personnel, and closely work with concerning ministries, agencies and localities to help the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha successfully host the UN Day of Vesak 2019 in Ha Nam province.
On the occasion, four groups and 26 individuals of the government religious committee were presented with certificates of recommendation from the home affairs ministry for their outstanding contributions in the state management on religion.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyễn Trọng Thừa presents certificate of recommendation to Chairman Vũ Chiến Thắng
The ministry of home affairs also handed over a retirement decision to Vice Chairman Trần Tấn Hùng who will retire from office from February 1.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyễn Trọng Thừa presents retirement decision to Vice Chairman Trần Tấn Hùng
PTT
