Joining the reception included Deputy Head of the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam Susan Sutton, Political Affairs Officer of the US embassy Johnson Aqueelad, and representatives of GCRA’s office and departments of legislation & inspection and international relations.

In exchanges on Vietnam’s Law on Belief and Religion that was passed on November 18 by the Vietnam’s National Assembly, Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà affirmed that the Vietnam’s new law on belief and religion aims to institutionalize Vietnam’s policies on belief and religion, overcome limitations in the existed legal system on religion and belief, and accord to the international covenants that Vietnam has signed or acceded to. The law contributed to enhance state responsibility in ensuring religious freedom and respond to the practical situation of religious diversity in Vietnam, he added.

The vice chairman also informed the guests GCRA’s ongoing efforts for dissemination of the new law on belief and religion to people nationwide and completion of drafting decrees guiding the implementation of the law before it fully takes effect on January 1, 2018, making it convenient for religious individuals and organizations to comply with.

Speaking to the hosts, Ambassador-at-large David Saperstein acknowledged positive changes in the new law on religion and belief, such as the shorter time for a religious organization to be official recognized, from 23 years in the previous legal document on religion to only five year in the new law, and more favorable conditions for religious practices by foreigners in Vietnam.

The US ambassador on international religious freedom also took the chance for clearer understanding of specific concepts and contents contained in Vietnam’s Law on Belief and Religion, including the definition of religious terms of dignitary and deacon, the holding of conferences and congresses by religious organizations, and lawful places for religious practices by unregistered religious groups.

PTT