Government religious committee receives official from U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, Labor

05/16/2019

Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Bùi Thanh Hà hosted on November 8 a reception for visiting Senior Advisor Scott Busby from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of the State.

Joining the reception included representatives from the GCRA’s departments for, international relation, Protestant affairs and the committee office.

Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà (phải) and Senior Advisor Scott Busby

At the visiting reception, Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà and Senior Advisor Scott Busby had exchanges on current religious and the implementation of the new Law on Belief and Religion 2016 in Vietnam.

The GCRA Vice Chairman said that the Law on Belief and Religion and the guiding decree has come into effect since January 1st, 2018. The implementation of the Law on Religion and Belief after more than one year has brought certain results including the more favorable conditions for religious practices of foreigners and international religious events in Vietnam.

He also informed the guests of results of the 16th UN Day of Vesak 2019 hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Tam Chuc pagoda located in the northern province of Ha Nam, which the drew participation of about 1,650 delegates from 112 countries and territories worldwide alongside 20,000 delegates and Buddhist followers in Vietnam. The successfully UN Day of Vesak taken place in Vietnam for the third time showed that the State of Vietnam always respects and guarantees religious practices of people, as well as promotes fine values of religions, including Buddhism, he stated.

Posing for group photo

PH