Minister Dao Ngoc Dung: Hope the US and Vietnam increase sharing of information and experience in religious management

On the afternoon of April 22, in Hanoi , Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Dao Ngoc Dung had a meeting with US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knappe.

Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Dao Ngoc Dung and US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knappe. Photo: Le Anh Dung

US Ambassador appreciates religious management in Vietnam

Ambassador Marc E. Knappe said that one of the similarities between the US and Vietnam is the diversity of ethnicity and religion.

“The two countries can always talk to each other with respect, openness, and a common goal of further strengthening the partnership and building bridges between the two countries and peoples. When there are different opinions and views, they are exchanged with respect, in a friendly and constructive spirit,” the Ambassador affirmed.

Comparing his first term with his current term working in Vietnam, the Ambassador highly appreciated the great improvement in the field of religion and belief.

“When Vietnam has the Law on Belief and Religion, it is something to be proud of in terms of progress and development in religious management. The leaders of the Party, Government, and National Assembly of Vietnam have coordinated with religious leaders to create favorable space for believers as well as non-religious people to come and do activities,” he said.

Ambassador Marc E. Knappe highly appreciated the religious management work in Vietnam. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Even in the United States, problems can arise in how laws are implemented and enforced, especially at the local level, according to Ambassador Marc E. Knappe. The United States has made great efforts to ensure that local leaders and officials understand what they can and cannot do regarding beliefs and religions.

"Hopefully, after restructuring the government apparatus, merging provinces, and abolishing district levels, Vietnam will have a more favorable environment for local leaders and officials to carry out their duties most effectively," said the Ambassador.

Regarding some remaining concerns such as the legal framework on religion, beliefs, and registration of religious groups in the locality, the Ambassador hopes that at this meeting, the Minister will share information to enhance mutual understanding and promote cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam complies with United Nations regulations, in accordance with world practices.

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador and the US Embassy for supporting Vietnam in many areas over the years, notably issues related to human rights, trade agreements, and improving the lives of people, especially ethnic minorities and mountainous areas.

According to the Minister, democracy and human rights are very big issues that every country is concerned about, especially countries with extensive international relations, developing economies, and multi-ethnic and multi-religious countries like Vietnam.

Appreciating this meeting with the US Ambassador, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung emphasized: “Since Vietnam and the US re-established diplomatic relations, the relationship between the two countries has become increasingly effective, substantive, and has never been better than now. We truly have comprehensive strategic cooperation, understand each other, trust each other, and work towards the interests of both countries and peoples. Over the years, the understanding, respect, and mutual support between the US and Vietnam both bilaterally and in international forums have been very good.”

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung: "The consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State is to respect the people's freedom of belief and religion." Photo: Le Anh Dung

The Minister provided some background information on the field of ethnicity and religion in Vietnam: Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country with 54 ethnic groups, 14% of whom are ethnic minorities and mountainous people. The country has 28 million followers, 43 religious organizations, and 5 major religions.

The consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam is to respect and ensure the freedom of belief, religion and non-belief and religion of the people. All ethnic groups are equal, respect, support and help each other to progress together.

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung also spent a lot of time answering the concerns of the US Ambassador. The Minister sincerely shared: Vietnam is in the process of continuing to improve the law, reform institutions, build a socialist rule of law state, of the people and for the people, towards becoming more open and transparent. In the future, after merging and streamlining the government apparatus, many issues will be improved and will be closer to the people.

The Minister affirmed that each country has its own legal regulations, but Vietnam's legal system always complies with the regulations of the United Nations and is consistent with common international practices. The Law on Belief and Religion ensures the freedom of belief and religion of people in Vietnam.

“Like the US, Vietnam does not have a policy of restricting the activities of religious groups, only handling those who violate the law. To date, about 70% of religious establishments nationwide have been granted land use rights certificates. In the coming time, we will continue to direct localities to pay attention to early settlement, creating legal conditions for religious organizations to operate in accordance with their charters and regulations, promoting the tradition of patriotic devotion to religion, the spirit of great national unity, solidarity between religion and life, together improving material and spiritual life, and well implementing the policies of the Party and State,” the Minister informed.

The Minister expressed his hope that in the coming time, the US and Vietnam (directly the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions) will increase sharing of valuable information and experience in religious management.

The Minister believes that during his term, the Ambassador will support the industry more and more effectively, and at the same time have the stance to remove Vietnam from the List of Countries Under Special Religious Watch (SWL) and not put it on the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC).

Also at the meeting, the Minister and Ambassador Marc E. Knappe discussed many issues related to the field of ethnic minorities in mountainous areas; supporting Vietnam in identifying and searching for remains of martyrs with missing information, and searching for missing Americans in Vietnam...

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/mong-my-va-viet-nam-tang-cuong-chia-se-thong-tin-kinh-nghiem-quan-ly-ton-giao-2394009.html