US, Vietnam discuss religious situation
Visiting US ambassador-at-large for international religious liberty, John Hanford, discussed Vietnam’s religious situation during a meeting Thursday with Deputy PM Pham Gia Khiem.
Hanford, who visited Vietnam on August 15-18 to study the religious situation here, stressed that the two countries should continue negotiations on this issue as well as others to boost bilateral cooperation.
Khiem agreed saying that negotiations to resolve differences over religion and other issues should continue to avoid adverse effects on bilateral relations.
He also called on the US to grant Vietnam permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status soon and remove it from the list of "countries of particular concern".
During his stay in Vietnam, Hanford paid a courtesy visit on Minister and Chairman of the Committee of Ethnic Minorities Ksor Phuoc.
He also met with Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Ngo Yen Thi, Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Huong, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang, and other senior officials.
Source: Vietnam News Agency
