VN respects right to freedom of religion, belief: FM spokesperson

This is clearly stated in the country’s Constitution, continuously improved in its legal system and policies on belief, and guaranteed and respected in reality, she said on July 4 in response to reporters’ queries about Viet Nam’s comments on the International Religious Freedom Report released by U.S. Department of State.

Hang further explained that up to 95% of the Vietnamese population practice a belief or religion, of which over 24.3 million or 27% of the population are religious followers.

Viet Nam has 53,000 religious dignitaries and 28,000 worshipping places, she said, adding that there are more than 8,000 religious festivals in the country each year.

The country has hosted many major international religious events such as the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017 and the United Nations Day of Vesak for the third time this year, Hang noted.

The U.S. report recognized achievements and progress Vietnam has made in ensuring and promoting religious life, Hang said. 

She stressed that Viet Nam and the U.S. have maintained regular information exchanges and worked to intensify mutual understanding about issues of their concern.

However, the report still has some partial evaluations which are based on false information about Viet Nam.

Viet Nam stands ready to cooperate and hold dialogues with the US in the field in order to narrow differences and strengthen mutual understanding, for the sake of people of the two countries, she said.

*Regarding reporters’ queries on Viet Nam’s response to China’s recent missile test in the East Sea, Hang said:

“Viet Nam suggests that all activities in the East Sea should respect sovereignty and legitimate and legal interests of countries and observe international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, contributing to regional peace, security, stability and cooperation”.

She said Viet Nam is interested in and keeping a close watch on this incident.

*When asked about the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)’s arrest of the two fishing boats and fishermen from Kien Giang province on June 21 in the waters about 40 nautical miles away from the northern coast of Kuching, Sarawak state, the FM Spokesperson said:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia to work with Vietnamese and Malaysian competent agencies in handling the case related to Malaysia’s detaining of two fishing boats and 21 fishermen of Viet Nam and carry out necessary citizen protection measures”.

She cited the Vietnamese Embassy’s verified information as saying that first trial for the case is scheduled to take place on July 5.

Also according to the embassy, the MMEA captured 25 foreign fishing vessels, including 20 from Viet Nam, off the coasts of Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan states during the first two weeks of May.

The embassy was directed to keep contact with Malaysian competent agencies to keep track of the case and to ask the Malaysian side to soon provide a list of detained Vietnamese fishermen.

The embassy was also requested to actively carry out necessary citizen protection measures and work with related Vietnamese localities to complete needed procedures for bringing the fishermen back home when Malaysia issues deportation orders.

By Hoang Ha