Vietnam rejects unobjective judgements in US report on int’l religious freedom
Vietnam rejects the unobjective, prejudiced and imprecise judgements about the reality in the country made in the 2024 annual report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), emphasised spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.
Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang. (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam rejects the unobjective, prejudiced and imprecise judgements about the reality in the country made in the 2024 annual report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), emphasised spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.
She made the remark while replying to the media’s question about the issue at the ministry’s regular press conference on May 9.
Hang said Vietnam has consistently implemented a policy of respecting and ensuring people’s right to freedom of religion or belief, and the right to follow or not follow religion.
In Vietnam, no one is discriminated on the grounds of religion or belief, and activities of religious organisations are ensured in line with legal regulations. This is clearly reflected in the 2013 Constitution, the country’s legal system, as well as in reality, she went on.
Vietnam’s policies, efforts, and achievements in ensuring human rights, including the freedom of religion or belief, have been recognised and highly valued by many countries. These are also the assessments made by the countries participating in the dialogue on Vietnam's national report under the United Nations Human Rights Council’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, according to the spokeswoman.
☂ Stressing the country’s rejection of the unobjective, biased, and imprecise judgements made in the USCIRF’s 2024 annual report, she said, “We have been discussing the issues of shared concern with the US side in the spirit of openness, straightforwardness, and mutual respect to contribute to the promotion of the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development between Vietnam and the US.”/.
The Vietnamese State always respects and protects the right to freedom of religion or belief for all, and does not discriminate against any based on religion or belief, affirmed Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen Van Ky.
Twenty years ago, Vietnamese in the Russian Federation with faith in God were the first members of the Christian Word of Life Church to return to their homeland where the religious organisation is based.
The diversity of religious activities, including festivals, clearly demonstrates that the right to freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam is guaranteed in line with Article 24 of the 2013 Constitution which stipulates that everyone shall enjoy freedom of belief and religion, and can follow any religion or follow none; and the State respects and protects the freedom of belief and of religion, according to insiders.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
