Da Nang (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting in thecentral city of Da Nang on August 9 with religious dignitaries who madeoutstanding contributions to the national construction and safeguard, duringwhich he affirmed that interests of each religion are intertwined with those ofthe nation.

Phuc affirmed that religiousunity, national harmony, and respecting and ensuring people’s right to beliefand religion freedom are basic policies related to belief and religions of theParty and State.

He highly valued andacknowledged contributions by religious organisations to the nation, addingthat recognized religious organisations have followed the State’s policies andlaws, and promoted good moral and cultural values in the society.

The Government leaderunderlined several difficulties and challenges that need to be solved in Statemanagement over religious affairs, including incomplete legal framework,overlapping policies and mechanisms, and the ineffective implementation ofseveral contents of the Law on Belief and Religions.

He noted thatauthorities in several places have paid little attention to locals’ legitimatebelief and religious needs.

There also existheresies and superstitious activities that affect people’s health, time andmoney, the leader pointed out.

Therefore, heexpressed his hope that dignitaries and leaders of religious organisations willcontinue standing side by side with the Government and local authorities at alllevels to address issues related to religious affairs in the spirit of respectingthe rule of the law, and ensure all people’s right to belief and religionfreedom.


He asked the religiousdignitaries to promote their role to set example for the implementation ofreligious policies and law, while encouraging followers to join socio-economicdevelopment movements.

They should work toprevent outside forces from taking advantage of religious freedom to sowdivision and hamper the country’s national development and internationalintegration, the leader asked.

The PM also directedministries, sectors and localities to continue completing policies and laws onreligious affairs.

According to theGovernment Committee for Religious Affairs, Vietnam has recognised and grantedlicences to 43 religious organisations belonging to 16 religions which groupabout 26 million followers, including nearly 56,000 dignitaries, and over 29,300worshiping facilities.

Many religiousactivities have contributed to introducing the image of Vietnamese land,cultures and people to international friends, helping affirm the State’sconsistent policy of respecting and ensuring the right to belief and religionfreedom.

Notably, there areover 500 charitable medical facilities set up by religious organisations acrossthe nation.-VNA