At the reception

Joining the event included Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam’s National Assembly's Ethnic Council Trần Thị Hoa Ri.

Welcoming the guests, Vice Chairman Nguyễn Tiến Trọng shared fine cooperative relations and mutual support between the GCRA and competence agencies of Laos in the State administration on belief and religion, practically contributing to bolster the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Laos.

Vice Chairman Nguyễn Tiến Trọng informed functions and tasks of the GCRA, as well as religious life and the State administration on belief and religion in Vietnam

Over the past years, Vietnam has achieved numerous advances in  the protection of human rights, including rights of freedom of belief and religion. Thanks to sound right policy of the State, religious life in Vietnam has had positive changes in religious affairs and practices of religious organizations, and followers, he stated

According to the Vice Chairman, the Vietnam Government has recognized 36 religious organizations and given registration certificates for religious activities for four religious organizations and one religious practicing association, belonging to 16 different religions. Religious training, the building and restoration of religious worshipping places have favorably taken place in accordance with the law. Many international religious events have successfully been organized in Vietnam. In last July, the Vietnam and Vatican has agreed on the Regulation on the operation of the Holy See’s Resident Representative in Vietnam, opening up a new phase in the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican.

The GCRA official took the chance to inform results of cooperation activities between the GCRA and competence agencies in the State administration on belief and religion over the past years, including exchanges of visiting delegations, and experiences in the implementing of the State administration on belief and religion, professional training for personnel tasked with religious affairs, etc.

Vice Chairman Nguyễn Tiến Trọng (R) presents gift to Chairman Khamchanh Sotapaserth

On behalf of the Lao NA’s Ethnic Affairs Committee, Chairman Khamchanh Sotapaserth thanked the Vice Chairman for the warm welcome and informed results of the working visit to Vietnam as part of a cooperation agreement between Lao NA’s Ethnic Affairs Committee and the Vietnamese NA’s Ethnic Council.

He also shared with the host about religious life and outstanding practical issues relating religious affairs in Laos, including emerging groups in the name  of religious organization causing negative impacts to the political security situation, social life, and disputes with national cultural traditions in Laos.

He expressed hope for further cooperation between the agencies tasked with religious affairs of the two sides, contributing to consolidate great friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.

Chairman Khamchanh Sotapaserth presents souvenir picture to Vice Chairman Nguyễn Tiến Trọng

PH