Joining the reception included Director of the GCRA’s International Relation Department Nguyễn Đức Vinh, representatives from the GCRA’s Office and the Legislation and Inspection Department.

Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà and Special Envoy Jan Figel

At the reception, Special Envoy Jan Figel informed the host purpose of the delegation visit to Vietnam which aimed to learn about belief and religious policies ethnic minorities and the Law on Belief and Religion in Vietnam.

Speaking with the guests, Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà briefed the guests on the current religious life in the country as well as policies and laws of Vietnam State on belief and religion. Regarding the Law on Belief and Religion, he stated that the new law with 09 chapters and 68 articles adopted by the 14th National Assembly at its second session and taking effect on January 1, 2018, was enacted in the spirit of the 2013 Constitution on guarantee of the right to freedom of belief and religion for all people. He said the law has many new contents such as an additional chapter on the right to religious freedom and revised regulations on religious activities, recognition of non-commercial legal entity status for religious organizations, and religious ordainment of foreigners who are lawfully residing in Vietnam, etc.

Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà took the chance to thank the EU for support and assistance extended to the GCRA in organizing seminars on freedom of belief and religious in Vietnam and expressed his hope that Vietnam and EU will have more opportunities for exchanges cooperation in the time ahead.

Posing for group photo

PH