Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations. (UN) (Photo: VNA)At a meeting with Dr. phil. Thomas Schirrmacher,Secretary General & CEO of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) in New Yorkon April 6, the diplomat noted that the policy is enshrined in theConstitution, the 2016 Law on Belief and Religion, and other relevantdocuments.
Therefore, religions in Vietnam, including Protestantism,have favourable conditions to develop healthily, contributing to national socio-economicstability and development, he continued.
Vietnam is home to more than 1 million Protestantsin all of its 63 cities and provinces, and some 90 organisations andgroups.
Giang also stressed that Vietnam stands ready tohold dialogues and cooperate with countries and organisations in issuesregarding human rights and religious freedom, in the spirit of mutual respectand understanding.
The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry last month launchedVietnam's voluntary midterm report on the implementation of Universal PeriodicReview (UPR) third cycle recommendations and announced the country's candidacyto the UN Human Rights Council in the 2023-2025 tenure, he stressed.
For his part, Schirrmacher expressed his impressionon Vietnam’s policies, laws and achievements in protecting and promoting humanrights, including religious freedom, as well as the ambassador’s open,constructive and sincere dialogue spirit in this field.
The two sides also compared notes on regional andinternational issues of common concern like climate change and UN reform.
Established in London in 1846, the WEA seeks tostrengthen local churches through national alliances, supporting andcoordinating grassroots leadership and seeking practical ways to show theunity of the body of Christ./.
VNA
