Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Bùi Thanh Hà hosted on September 19 the reception for a delegation from the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) led by Commissioner Anurima Bhargava.
Joining the reception included representatives of the GCRA’s office and department for Protestant affairs and international relations
At the event, the two sides had exchanges on religious issues in Vietnam, including the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion 2016 in localities, religion-related land and religious practices at home by religious groups.
Dr. Bùi Thanh Hà informed that the GCRA has been working closely with the provincial-level religious committee for a unified and consistent implementation of the new law on belief and religion, as well as welcomed comments and feedbacks for improving the implementation of the new law.
The State of Vietnam is committed to create favorable conditions for religious practices by religious followers at lawful places as prescribed by state laws, contributing to ensure religious freedom as well as social harmony and public order in localities, he stated.
The vice chairman noted that the assessment on religious life in Vietnam through reports by foreign state and organizatrions, including the USCIRF, has been varied due to different approaches and information sources, and these reports have generally showed more progresses in the protection of religious freedom by the State of Vietnam under the Constitution 2013 and the Law on Belief and Religion 2016.
The GCRA official also informed the guests of major religious events recently hosted in Vietnam, including the UN Day of Vesak 2019 held in May in Ha Nam province and the 290th General Chapter of the Preachers Order concluded last month in Vietnam Southern Province of Dong Nai.
PTT
