The Party and State of Vietnam respect people’s right to religious freedom and ensure all religions observe the law, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a working session with leaders of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs on February 26 in Hanoi.
The Prime Minister asked the Committee to work hard to maximize achievements and overcome limitations while overseeing State management of religions, mainly in an advisory capacity. Dung stresses the need to be vigilant against hostile forces that take advantage of religion to undermine national utility and political order.
At the session, head of the Committee Pham Dung, who is also the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, said that religious activities abided by the law play an important role in the charity and humanitarian work in the country. However, he said, the shortage of legal documents on religions and belief and the outdated contents of existing documents obstructed the state management of religions, especially in the context of globalization.
Illegal missionary work and superstitions still existed among ethnic minority groups and in border areas, Pham Dung added.-