Addition of Vietnam to US religious freedom watch list based on inaccurate info

“The putting of Vietnam on the U.S. Special Watch List regarding religious freedom was based on evaluations that were not objective, as well as inaccurate information on the freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam,” deputy spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at a Thursday regular press meeting.

Hang was replying to a comment about the fact that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had added Vietnam to a Special Watch List regarding religious freedom on December 2.

Hang said Vietnam’s consistent stance is to respect and ensure human rights, as well as the people’s freedom of religion and belief, which is recorded in the Constitution and Vietnam’s legal system.

“Vietnam’s efforts and achievements to ensure human rights and the people’s freedom of religion and belief have been widely acknowledged by the international community,” Hang said. “Vietnam is willing to talk with the U.S. about issues of mutual interest, in the spirit of honesty, openness and mutual respect, contributing to the bolstering of the two countries’ comprehensive partnership.”