Home Affairs’ Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng receives US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper

10/10/2023

Deputy Minister of the Home Affair Ministry Vũ Chiến Thắng hosted on October 5 a reception for US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, on occasion of the upcoming visit by a delegation of Vietnamese officials and religious dignitaries to United State of America.

Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng (right) and US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper

Joining the event included Chief of the Home Affairs Ministry’s Office Vũ Đăng Minh, Director of the Home Affairs Ministry’s International Relation Chu Tuấn Tú, and Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyễn Tiến Trọng.

Welcoming the guests, Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng extended congratulations to US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper on his contribution to the success of the state visit of President Joseph R. Biden Jr to Vietnam on September 10-11, where the Vietnam-US relations has been announced to be elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

The deputy minister informed that the upcoming visit of Vietnamese interdisciplinary delegation led by Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng to USA included officials from concerning agencies and dignitaries of several major religions in Vietnam.

The home affairs ministry official also shared with US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper about the working schedule of the delegation from October 10-23, and several issues to be discussed during the visit. He asked for the US ambassador’s his collaboration and support in helping the visiting delegation to meet its goals, as well as for the US Department of State to soon remove Vietnam from the "Special Watch List for Religious Freedom". He took the chance to share about the national professional training for state personel tasked with religious affairs from 63 provinces and cities recently taken place in Hanoi.

US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper thanked the deputy minister for the warm welcome and expressed his delight about the upcoming visit of the working delegation to the U.S. for exchanges with the US Department of State and officials tasked with religious affairs of the US government.

Speaking with the host, Ambassador Marc E. Knapper stated that the joint statement on elevating the Vietnam-US relations also marked practical contributions made by social and religious organizations in the fields of education, medical examination and social service in two countries. The ambassador also stated that, in his position, he is ready to assist the upcoming working visit of Vietnamese delegation to the U.S.