The US Consulate General highly appreciates the care for ethnic and religious people in Vinh Long province.

On September 23, Chief of Office of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee Pham Thi No and representatives of the Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Home Affairs and Provincial Police received and worked with the delegation of the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Representatives of Vinh Long province received and worked with the delegation of the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

The delegation from the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City visiting and working in Vinh Long province included Political Officer Rustum Nyquist and Political Assistant Cao Nha Phuong.

At the meeting, the US Consulate General delegation discussed the province's economy, gender-based violence, human trafficking, especially issues related to human rights, religious freedom, the case related to Dai Tho Pagoda and the "lecture hall" illegally built in the province...

Representatives of Vinh Long province informed the US side about the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies in the economic, cultural and social fields, especially emphasizing that the province always cares about the lives and social security of ethnic minorities in the province.

Discussing the issue of Dai Tho Pagoda and the "Lecture Hall" illegally built in the province, the representative of Vinh Long province affirmed that the provincial authorities did not enforce the so-called "Lecture Hall" but only enforced the demolition of the illegal construction on people's land according to state regulations, and at the same time implemented the verdict of the People's Court of Tam Binh district. The police did not arrest and prosecute the abbot of the pagoda, monks and Buddhists, but arrested and prosecuted those who violated Vietnam's criminal law.

Affirming that Vietnam always respects the right to freedom of belief and religion, the right to follow or not follow any religion, Vinh Long province said that no independent Cao Dai leader has been questioned or banned from leaving the country for religious reasons.

The Office of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Vinh Long province received a delegation from the US Consulate General.

During the trip, the US Consulate General delegation visited the Office of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Vinh Long Province at the Jade Buddha Relic Pagoda, Tan Ngai Ward, Vinh Long City, Vinh Long Province. Receiving and working with the delegation was Most Venerable Thich Le Lac, Head of the Executive Committee representing the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Vinh Long Province.

At the meeting, the delegation expressed interest in Buddhist work in the province, the connection between pagodas, and the connection between Southern Khmer Buddhism and Northern Buddhism in the province.

Most Venerable Thich Le Lac, Head of the Executive Committee representing the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Vinh Long province, exchanged information about the situation of Buddhism in Vinh Long province. In recent times, the Party, the State and local authorities have paid great attention and created the best conditions for religious activities, including Buddhism. Religions are always united, caring and helping each other, especially Khmer Southern Buddhism and Northern Buddhism, which have close links and operate together in the same church.

At the same time, Venerable Thich Le Lac affirmed that the arrest and handling of Vietnamese citizens who violated Vietnamese criminal law was in accordance with regulations, and that there was no arrest or handling of abbots, monks, or Buddhists. Currently, only Vietnamese people residing in the US come to visit relatives and visit Buddhist temples, and there are no temples of Americans or American citizens in the province.

The US Consulate General delegation thanked Vinh Long province for its warm welcome; at the same time, highly appreciated the political stability, as well as the economic, cultural and social development of the province, especially the policies showing the concern of the local Party Committee and government for the people of all ethnic groups and religions in the province.

The delegation hopes that in the coming time, the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City will continue to be a bridge to promote increasingly sustainable cooperative relations between the US and Vietnam in general and Vinh Long province in particular.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tong-lanh-su-quan-my-danh-gia-cao-cong-tac-cham-lo-cho-dong-bao-dan-toc-ton-giao-tai-tinh-vinh-long-287905.html