Vietnam attends Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue in Morocco
A delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly led by Don Tuan Phong, Vice Chairman of the Committee for External Affairs attended the Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue which took place from June 13-15 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Don Tuan Phong, Vice Chairman of National Assembly's Committee for External Affairs. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation of the Vietnamese NationalAssembly led by Don Tuan Phong, Vice Chairman of the Committee for ExternalAffairs attended the Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue which tookplace from June 13-15 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Co-organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Moroccan Parliament, the conference brought together more than 700 delegates including speakers and members of parliament, religious leaders, representatives of civil society and other experts .
Speaking at the plenary session with the theme "Parliaments and religious leaders: Promoting dialogue, working together for our common future”, the head of the Vietnamese delegation affirmed Vietnam'sconsistent policy on ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion,solidarity and harmony among religions, equality andnon-discrimination on the grounds of religion, as stipulated in the nation's Constitutionand the Law on Beliefs and Religion.
He also briefed participants on Vietnam's important achievements inguaranteeing and promoting human rights in general, including the right tofreedom of belief and religion, the active participation of religions ineducation, health care, social protection and charitable activities, especiallyduring the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role of National Assembly deputies who are religious dignitaries.
Phong suggested that parliaments, as well as religions, promote cooperation,dialogue and information sharing mechanisms to improve understanding and buildmutual trust and respect, and explore peaceful solutions to conflicts as wellas global challenges; strengthen parliamentary diplomacy with the IPU playing the centralrole as the global parliamentary organisation to promote peace and understandingthrough political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action.
He called🌌 for speeding up the implementation of the contents of the IPU's2012 Québec Declaration on Citizenship, Identity and Linguistic and CulturalDiversity in the Age of Globalisation as well as the 2017 St. PetersburgDeclaration on promoting cultural diversity and peace through dialogue betweenreligions and between peoples.
The Vietnamese representative said that the National Assembly of Vietnam will host theninth IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians inSeptember which aims to boost the role of young parliamentarians inthe implementation of sustainable development goals through digitaltransformation and innovation and invited parliaments of countries to send delegates to the event. On the sidelines of the conference, the Vietnamese delegation had meetings with IPU President Duarte Pacheco and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong to discuss promoting cooperation between the National Assembly ofVietnam and IPU, including the organisation ofthe ninth IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians. The IPU leaders affirmed their support for Vietnam, expressing their belief that the country would continue to actively participate in IPU activities. The head of the Vietnamese delegation also had meetings with delegations fromUK, Austria, Tanzania, Indonesia and Thailand./.
Throughout the “Doi moi” (Renewal) process, the belief and religious life in Vietnam has changed towards greater freedom and progress, with belief and religious activities taking place vibrantly, and the right to belief and religious freedom better protected, which has been recognised by the international community.
As a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country with diverse religious and belief life, the Vietnamese State consistently implements a policy of respecting and guaranteeing a citizen's right to freedom of religion and belief, and the right to follow or not follow any religion; ensuring equality and non-discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief; and protecting activities of religious organisations by law, stated the Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on May 18.
In their recently released international religious freedom reports, the US Department of State and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), on one hand recognised Vietnam’s certain progress in promoting religious freedom and citing some official information from Government agencies of Vietnam but on the other still includes inobjective assessments based on unverified and inaccurate information about the reality in Vietnam.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
Don Tuan Phong, Vice Chairman of National Assembly's Committee for External Affairs. (Photo: VNA) 
