Prime Minister meets and commends outstanding religious dignitaries and officials

On the morning of August 9, in Da Nang City, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met and commended religious dignitaries and officials who have made outstanding contributions to the cause of national construction and defense.

Speaking at the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his joy at meeting outstanding dignitaries, officials and monks who have made positive contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; at the same time, he affirmed that the Party and State always pay attention to religion and have policies respecting freedom of belief and religion.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the dignitaries, officials and followers of religions who have actively joined hands in patriotic emulation movements, poverty reduction and socio-economic development. Among them are many typical examples of dignitaries, officials and followers of religions, the most typical of which are the delegates present at this meeting.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in this hall, there are many examples of many religious organizations, individuals, dignitaries, and officials who have made many special achievements, helping the poor with medical treatment, supporting meritorious services, and devoting a lot of effort, intelligence, and material wealth to support the disadvantaged classes in society, in addition to the attention and support of the Party and the State.

Although each religion in our country has a different history of formation and characteristics, all religions exist in the heart of the nation; the interests of each religion are also closely linked to the interests of the nation and people. Therefore, religious solidarity, national harmony, respect and guarantee of freedom of belief, religion and non-belief, religion are the basic policies of our Party and State.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

The Prime Minister reiterated President Ho Chi Minh's words that national unity, especially unity among religions, is a matter of life and death, deciding the success or failure of the revolutionary cause and the survival of our nation. That is why, right after the country's independence, in the first meeting of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (September 3, 1945), he affirmed: "We must unite closely without distinction of party, class, or religion. Unity means strength; division means weakness."

Implementing his teachings, in recent years, the Party and State have issued many policies and laws on religion, creating favorable conditions for all levels and sectors to unify their viewpoints on religious work and promote religious resources in social life.

Highlighting the country's achievements in recent times, the Prime Minister emphasized the important contributions of over 26 million religious followers, accounting for more than a quarter of the country's population.

Overview of the meeting.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the Prime Minister respectfully acknowledged and highly appreciated the great contributions of religions and religious people to the cause of socio-economic development of the country. In particular, he praised the good cultural and ethical values ​​of religions in building a civilized and cultural lifestyle; promoting religious resources, contributing to enhancing the overall strength in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

The Prime Minister said that the Party and State leaders respect and wish to listen to the dedicated and responsible opinions of religious dignitaries and officials; and their proposals and strategies for the Party and State, especially in implementing policies and laws on beliefs and religions, effectively promoting resources and enhancing the role of religions, and together building a Vietnam with rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness and civilization.

Therefore, the Government, the Prime Minister, and central agencies listen to the sincere opinions of religious organizations, voices from the heart, and responsibilities to the religious and non-religious communities of our country.

According to the report of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs at the meeting, in recent times, religions in Vietnam have always promoted the tradition of patriotism, solidarity, solidarity with the nation, and shared responsibility with society and the country. Along with that, they continue to respond to and participate in patriotic emulation movements. Religious humanistic values ​​have contributed to the cultural identity of the nation and will continue to contribute to building and protecting the fatherland.

As of this August, our state has recognized and granted operating registration to 43 religious organizations belonging to 16 religions, with about 26 million followers, nearly 56,000 dignitaries, nearly 146,000 officials, and more than 29,000 religious worship facilities.

As a constituent element of culture, religious precepts have brought profound moral and humanistic values, contributing to regulating human behavior. Many residential areas with a large number of religious followers have become bright spots in crime prevention, drug prevention and social evils./.