International seminar “the rich heritage of religious diversity in Vietnam and its contributions to Vietnamese society”
10/10/2013
On September 25-26, 2013 the Government Committee for Religious Affairs in cooperation with the European Union (EU) delegation to Vietnam held an international seminar entitled “The rich heritage of religious diversity in Vietnam and its contribution to Vietnamese society” at Candeo Hotel in Hanoi.
Attending the seminar were Dr. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Mr. Franz Jessen, head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam and representatives from a number of central ministries and agencies, provincial and municipal committees in charge of religious affairs, international organizations and embassies in Hanoi. The event also saw the presence of dignitaries of such religions as Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Islam, Baha’i…
The seminar focused on three main contents: approaches to belief and religion; ensuring religious freedom and equality; and the interaction between religion and society.
The seminar analyzed Vietnam’s achievements in promoting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion, legal frameworks on belief and religion and commitments to protecting and promoting human rights in the area of religious freedom. Participants shared the EU’s experience in the diversity of religion, and laws as well efforts to protect religious freedom and values by the EU member states.
Dr. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs speaks at the seminar
Addressing the event, Dr. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân said “Vietnam has many forms of religions and beliefs. There’s approximately 80% of Vietnam’s total population have a religious or belief life with 24 million followers of 37 recognized religious organizations, accounting for 27 percent of the country’s population. Therefore, the diversity of belief and religion in Vietnam has been a factor and a driving force for peace, stability and development. The State’s policy not only respects and protects the people’s freedom of belief and religion, but also recognizes and promotes the positive cultural and moral values of religions”.
Mr. Franz Jessen, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam speaks at the seminar
Mr. Franz Jessen, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam emphasized the importance of international dialogue on matters relating to human rights, especially freedom of belief and religion. He said that freedom of belief and religion, as a fundamental human right, is an important part of the core values of the European Union and is also a topic of mutual concern of Vietnam and the EU”
This international seminar demonstrated Vietnam’s goodwill in promoting active dialogue with the European Union, with a view to enhancing mutual understanding in the field of religious affairs, contributing to the strengthening of the Vietnam-EU relations under the framework of their Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
Here are some images of the seminar:
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