Vietnamese PM listens to voices of religious dignitaries

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met here Monday with 55 representatives from religious organizations nationwide, to listen to religious followers' opinions and proposals.

The prime minister directed ministries, sectors and localities to continue focus on improving the spiritual and material conditions for people, especially religious followers, while promoting cultural and moral values of beliefs and religions in the society, thus enriching the country's culture, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Representatives from many religious organizations lauded the Law on Belief and Religions, while proposing that the government direct central agencies and sectors to issue guiding documents as soon as possible.

According to the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Vietnam has recognized and granted licenses to 39 religious organizations, which have over 24 million followers, or 27 percent of the country's population, nearly 53,000 dignitaries, and 28,000 worshiping facilities.

source: Xinhua