She made this statement while responding to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s comments on the recent report on the religious situation in Vietnam released by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The spokesperson noted, although the report recognizes the achievements and progress in ensuring and promoting religious practices in Vietnam, it still has subjective views and false information about religious practices in Vietnam.
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The spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang. Photo; VNA |
“Vietnam's consistent policy is to respect and ensure the right to freedom of religion and belief, as well as the right to freedom of non-religion and belief of citizens. This right is clearly stated in Vietnam’s Constitution and laws, while lawful religious practices are guaranteed in the reality,” she stressed.
Over the past years, Vietnam has spared no effort to improve its legal system and policies in religion and belief, especially approving the Law on Belief and Religion, as well as decrees guiding the implementation of this law, Hang said.
The practice of belief and religion is ensured with the annual organization of thousands of religious festivals and activities, she said, 95 % of Vietnam’s population practice a belief or religion, and more than 24.3 million are followers of religions, making up 27 % of the population.
The country has 53,000 religious dignitaries and 28,000 places of worship. There are a large number of religious events, with over 8,000 religious festivals annually in the country. Religious organizations also actively participate in international exchange and cooperation activities, Hang revealed.
She noted that Vietnam has been the host country of 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.
Regarding questions about Vietnam’s reaction to Indonesia’s capture and destruction of Vietnamese fishing vessels, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said Vietnam is deeply concerned over the issue. This action has not been appropriate to the good bilateral relations and contrary to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), she said.
Vietnam has worked with the Indonesian side many times and through different channels regarding this issue and asked Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and maritime forces to act appropriately in line with international law, UNCLOS, and the two countries’ bilateral relations, she added.
The spokesperson said Vietnam proposed that Indonesia treat Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen humanely according to the two nations’ relations and ASEAN spirit of solidarity.
Vietnam hopes to develop friendly relations and multi-faceted cooperation with Indonesia in the spirit of the two countries' strategic partnership for benefits of both peoples, contributing to the building of a strong ASEAN Community, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, she stressed.
Regarding the passing of the two US naval vessels inside the 12 nautical mile area around the Ga Ven and Gac Ma reefs of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago, Hang said “Vietnam has full legal foundations and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in accordance with international law.”
As a coastal nation in the East Sea and a member of the UNCLOS 1982, Vietnam holds that all countries are entitled to enjoy freedom of navigation and aviation, in accordance with the provisions of international law, especially the UNCLOS 1982, Hang said.
Vietnam calls on countries to continue making active and practical contributions to the maintenance of regional peace and stability, as well as respect and implement related international legal obligations and laws on seas and oceans, she added.
Translated by Chung Anh