Vietnam always respects the spiritual and moral values of religions, including Catholicism, in a bid to steer people to the truth, the good and the beautiful in line with Vietnamese cultural and moral tradition.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Pham Dung made the statement at the 10th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) in the southern province of Dong Nai on December 11.

He added that the Vietnamese State has been pursuing a consistent policy of respecting people’s right to religious freedom.

Dung said the event is a significant movement in Vietnam’s spiritual life and honours the Vietnamese Catholic followers in general and the Xuan Loi diocese in particular, adding that the Vietnamese Catholic community has become an important part in the great national unity and made many contributions to society.

Held in Vietnam for the first time, the event, themed “40 years of FABC, responding to the challenges of Asia”, attracted 200 cardinals, archbishops, bishops and church representatives from Asia, Europe, Australia and the Vatican.

It will conclude in Ho Chi Minh City on December 16.