Leaders of the Ministry of Public Security received the delegation of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Photo: Ministry of Public Security

Frederik Davie, member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said he would make practical contributions to promote the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and the United States.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Luong Tam Quang had an open exchange with the delegation about the situation of religious freedom in Vietnam.

The Deputy Minister said that the Party and Government of Vietnam have consistent policies and always strive to ensure the people's religious life. Vietnam considers it an important goal accompanying the renovation and socio-economic development in Vietnam.

Vietnam's efforts and achievements in ensuring freedom of belief and religion have been recognized by the international community. Most recently, Vietnam published a White book on religions, religious policies in Vietnam. The book aims to provide transparent and accurate information on policies and achievements ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam to international friends and the people in the country.

As a country with a rich and diverse religious life, Vietnam's promulgation of the Law on Belief and Religion took effect from January 1, 2018, aiming to concretize the provisions of the 2013 Constitution in the direction of better ensuring human rights and creating favorable conditions for people's religious activities.

The Government of Vietnam is completing and supplementing a draft Decree detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Belief and Religion (replacing Decree No. 162/2017/ND-CP) and Decree No. 162/2017/ND-CP to impose penalties for administrative violations in religion.

These are two legal documents with new and progressive points, creating favorable conditions for people to carry out religious activities.

According to Deputy Minister Luong Tam Quang, Vietnam and the United States both have the common goal of better ensuring the people's right to freedom of belief and religion.

Vietnam is always willing and eager to promote cooperation, share and exchange experiences with the US and the USCIRF particularly in religion on the basis of goodwill, and respect each other,

This is important in the context that the two countries are promoting practical cooperation activities towards the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Partnership in 2023.