During the exchange meeting, the provincial People’s Committee shared with the guests about results of economic, cultural and social development and stated that Vietnam State always respects the right to freedom of belief and religion, and the right to follow or not to follow religion.

The two sides also discussed practical issues relating religious and human rights activities in Vinh Long province.

Political officer Rustum Nyquits speaks at the meeting

For his part, US Political officer Rustum Nyquits highly appreciated the political stability and socio-economic development of the locality, especially favorable policies and guidelines created for ethnic and religious communities in the province. He said that in the coming time, the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City would continue to serve as a bridge to promote the increasingly sustainable relation of cooperation between the United States and Vietnam in general and Vinh Long province in particular.

On the occasion, the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City delegation visited the office of the provincial Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Committee based in Phat Ngoc Xa Loi Pagoda, Vinh Long city’s Tan Ngai ward. At the welcoming reception, Senior Venerable Thích Lệ Lạc, Chairman of the provincial VBS’s Executive Committee informed the guests of Buddhist affairs in the province over the past years and affirmed that the Party, the State and local authorities always create favorable conditions for religious practices, and highlighted the Buddhist unity between Southern and Northern Buddhism. Buddhist followers in the province have preserved cultural values ​​and contributed to the Vietnam Buddhism’s integration into the international community, he added.

The provincial VBS has exchanges with US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City

Currently, Vinh Long has currently 08 operative religions of Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Caodaism, Tu An Hieu Nghia Buddhist Association, Vietnam Pure-land Buddhist Association and Minh Su faith, with over 308,000 followers, accounting 30% the provincial population and 385 religious worshipping places.

Minh Lan