A delegation from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is in Vietnam from Oct. 21 to Nov. 2 to discuss religious liberty and related human rights issues. (USCIRF release). Vietnam has been on the State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern until recently, and USCIRF has recommended it be placed back on the list this year. (See prior posting.) Today VietnamNet reports that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told the visiting delegation that Vietnam is willing to talk with the U.S. about their disagreements on religious freedom matters. He said, however, that there are differences in cultures and legal systems between the two countries, and that the U.S. delegation should avoid imposing its lopsided viewpoints about religious freedom in Vietnam. He also urged the delegation to study the situation of Vietnamese who suffer from Agent Orange dioxin contamination-- a result of U.S. action during the Vietnam War.
UPDATE: On Thursday, Thanhnien News published a transcript of a meeting between USCIRF members in Vietnam and Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Huong. The U.S. delegation inquired of him about a number of religious and human rights issues.
