VOV.VN - Vietnam respects and guarantees citizens’ rights to freedom of belief and religion, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said at a regular press conference in Hanoi on July 4 while responding to reporters’ question about Vietnam’s assessment of the US State Department’s recent Report on International Religious Freedom.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

“The Vietnamese State’s consistent policy is respecting and protecting the freedom of belief and religion as well as non-belief and non-religion of all citizens. This is written into Vietnam's Constitution and laws, and is strictly enforced.  Vietnam is willing to cooperate and hold dialogue with the US on the issue to narrow differences and promote mutual understanding for the interests the two countries’ people,” the official said.            

Reacting to a news report that the US decides to impose high tariffs on several steel products of Vietnam, Hang said, “The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade has warned domestic businesses of stricter demands during circumvention inquiries by importers, including the US. It has also recommended companies devise suitable business strategies, especially switching to using materials made in Vietnam or other sources. 

The Vietnamese agencies will continue working with the US to protect rights and legitimate interests of companies, ensure the adherence to legal regulations and the World Trade Organization’s agreements, and prevent circumventing acts and origin fraud.”

Commenting Houthi rebels’ recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, spokesperson Hang said Vietnam condemns acts that damage safety and stability in the Middle East and called on involved parties to join efforts to settle disputes through peaceful dialogue on the basis of international law and related resolutions of the UN Security Council. 

Commenting on international support for searching and rescuing Vietnam’s fishing ship, she said according to the National Committee for Emergency and Natural Disaster Response, Search and Rescue, at 13:05 on June 28, 2019, the fishing vessel coded NA 95899 TS and 19 Vietnamese fishermen were in distress.

On June 29, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to ask China for emergency assistance and coordination with Vietnam to search for and rescue the missing fishermen.

After that the Chinese side sent eight ships and two helicopters to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to search and rescue the victims. Nine fishermen have been rescued so far, a dead body has been found, while nine others still missing.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work hand in hand with relevant agencies to quickly find the missing victims, Hang said.

Concerning China’s recent missile test in the East Sea the same day, Hang said Vietnam proposed that all activities in the East Sea should respect sovereignty and legitimate and legal interests of countries and comply with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus contributing to regional peace, security, stability and cooperation. 

Vietnam is highly interested in and keeping a close watch on this incident, she added.