Hanoi (VNA) – The State of Vietnam hasbeen consistent in its policy of respecting and guaranteeing the right to freedomof all citizens to follow or not to follow any religion and belief, the spokespersonof the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed at the ministry’s regularpress conference in Hanoi on May 9.

She made the statement in response to reporters’queries about Vietnam’s comments on the recent report on the religioussituation in Vietnam released by the US Commission on International ReligiousFreedom.

The spokesperson said the report recognised the achievementsand progress in the work of ensuring and promoting religious life in Vietnam,but it still has some partial evaluations and false information about Vietnam.

“The consistent policy of the State of Vietnamis respecting and guaranteeing the right to freedom of religion and belief, andfreedom of non-religion and belief of citizens. This is clearly stated inVietnam’s constitution and law, and guaranteed and respected in reality,” shestressed.

Over the years, Vietnam has spared no effort toimprove its legal system and policies in the field, especially approving theLaw on Belief and Religion, as well as decrees guiding the implementation ofthis law, Hang said.

The practice of belief and religion is ensuredwith the annual organisation of thousands of religious festivals andactivities, she said, adding that 95 percent of Vietnam’s population practise abelief or religion, and more than 24.3 million are followers of religions,accounting for 27 percent of the population.

The country has 53,000 religious dignitaries and28,000 places of worship. Vietnam holds an abundance of religious events, withover 8,000 religious festivals annually. Religious organisations also activelyparticipate in international exchange and cooperation activities, according toHang.

She noted that Vietnam has hosted many majorinternational religious events such as the 500th anniversary of the ProtestantReformation in 2017 and the United Nations Day of Vesak for the third time thisyear.

In response to questions about Vietnam’sreaction to Indonesia’s capture and destruction of Vietnamese fishing vessels,the foreign ministry spokesperson said Vietnam is deeply concerned over theissue. This action is inconsistent with bilateral relations and contrary to theUN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, she said.

Vietnam has worked with the Indonesian side manytimes and through different channels regarding this matter and askedIndonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and marine forces to actappropriately in line with international law, UNCLOS, and the two countries’bilateral relations, she added.

The spokesperson said Vietnam also proposed thatIndonesia treat Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen humanely according tothe two nations’ relations and ASEAN spirit of solidarity.

Vietnam hopes to develop friendly relations andmulti-faceted cooperation with Indonesia in the spirit of their strategicpartnership for the benefit of both peoples, contributing to the building of astrong ASEAN Community, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation, anddevelopment in the region and the world, she emphasised.

Regarding the entry of the two US naval vesselsin the 12 nautical mile area around the Ga Ven and Gac Ma reefs of Vietnam’sTruong Sa archipelago, Hang said “Vietnam has full legal foundations andhistorical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) andTruong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in accordance with international law.”

As a coastal nation in the East Sea and a memberof the UNCLOS 1982, Vietnam holds that all countries are entitled to enjoyfreedom of navigation and aviation, in accordance with the provisions ofinternational law, especially the UNCLOS 1982, Hang said.

Vietnam calls on countries to continue makingactive and practical contributions to the maintenance of regional peace andstability, as well as respect and implement related international legalobligations and laws on seas and oceans, she added. –VNA