Mr Dzung was responding to reporters’ questions on May 5 on Vietnam’s reaction over the US Commission on International Religious Freedom to the US Secretary of State that Vietnam be kept on the list of the “countries of particular concern (CPC)”. 

“The US Commission’s recommendations were completely wrong as they failed to reflect correctly the situation of religious freedom in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Government has repeatedly requested the US to remove Vietnam from the CPC list,” said Mr Dzung.

Mr Dzung noted that the Vietnamese State has issued many legal documents on religions such as the Ordinance on Religion and Belief and the Prime Minister's Directive on work for Protestantism, which systematically introduce a series of fundamental rights and responsibilities to create favorable conditions for religious activities.

"These legal documents stipulate the responsibilities of state agencies in managing religious activities in the direction of facilitating religious organisations and individuals in Vietnam. The implementation of these documents has met the demand of religious activities of practitioners and dignitaries of various religious organisations in Vietnam, thus bringing about evident changes in the religious life," he said.

Mr Dzung referred to the positive development of Vietnam-US relations, saying that the two countries share common interest in further strengthening their bilateral relationship in the framework of stable and sustainable partnership. Despite some differences, the two sides have agreed, through open and candid dialogues, to reduce the differences, including those in religious issues. During recent contacts, the US side has recognised the positive development of the religious situation in Vietnam and pledged to consider removing Vietnam from the CPC list.

Vietnam hopes that the US will make the right decision in conformity with the principles of developing the bilateral relationship in the spirit of mutual understanding and respect and in the interest of the two countries, said Mr Dzung.