Vietnam, Cambodia promote cooperation in religious affairs
Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to continue increasing delegation exchange, cooperation and experience sharing in State management on religion in localities.
The agreement was reached at talks between head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Chien Thang and Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion Him Chhem in Ho Chi Minh City on March 12 as part of the latter’s visit to Vietnam from March 11-15.
The two sides also agreed to support the Buddhist Sangha of each country to practice their religious activities.
They expressed delight at their cooperation results over the past years, especially the exchange of experience in religious affairs among localities along the shared border.
Thang noted that effective coordination between the two sides have helped enhance the efficiency of State management over religious activities in each country, while boosting the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
Stressing the importance of State management over religious affairs to the common development of both countries, he proposed that in the future, the two countries should continue enhancing their affiliation in the framework of the cooperation agreement in religious affairs signed in February 2015 in Ho Chi Minh City, focusing on increasing the exchange of high-ranking delegations, thus creating favourable conditions for the Buddhist Sangha of the two countries to bolster coordination and contribute more to the solidarity between people of both sides.
For his part, Him Chhem highly valued coordination and support of the Vietnamese Government Committee for Religious Affairs.
He held that the partnership between the two agencies has contributed to strengthening friendship and solidarity of the two countries, benefiting both peoples.
He agreed that Cambodia’s Ministry of Cult and Religion and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs of Vietnam should work more closely together through increasing high-level delegation exchanges and sharing experience, especially among localities sharing the border, thus contributing to building a borderline of peace, development and prosperity.
During their stay in Vietnam, Him Chhem and his delegation are scheduled to pay courtesy visits to leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province, and tour a number of religious facilities in the two localities.