Vietnam has always pursued a policy of safeguarding citizens’ rights toreligion and belief freedom, as stipulated in the country’sConstitution and legal framework, Head of the Government Committee forReligious Affairs Pham Dung affirmed.
Addressing an international conference in Hanoi on September 25, Dung,who also acts as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, said religiouspractices were common throughout Vietnam, since a quarter of thepopulation was religious. The country has 14 religions, 38 religiousorganisations, 78,000 dignitaries and over 24 million believers.
Religions and spiritual beliefs were diversifying Vietnamese culture,Dung stated. Dignitaries and believers played an active role in theprocesses of nation-building and national security, he said.
Delphine Malard, Head of the Politics, Press and Information Sectionof the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, spoke highly of thepositive changes in religious policies in Vietnam.
No nation was perfect in terms of religious freedom, she said,touching upon the necessity to consider the role of religion and beliefsin driving development.
After the conference, atraining course on religious issues will be held in Buon Ma Thuat cityin the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak from September 29-30, withthe participation of religious dignitaries and State officials workingin the field of religion in 15 localities in the Central Highlands andsouthern region.-VNA