The Deputy PM made the request at a meeting of the Steering Committee for the Northwestern region in Hanoi on May 25, in the presence of Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam, representatives of related agencies and northwestern localities.

Mr. Trong, who is also head of the Steering Committee for the Northwestern region, emphasized that under the leadership of local Party Committees and authorities, religious activities in the region have always complied with policies and laws. Both religious and non-religious people join efforts in patriotic movements to reduce poverty and gradually improve their living conditions.

However, he said, the situation remains complicated in some areas due to poor management of religious work.

Deputy PM Trong asked related agencies and localities to review what they have done in recent years and work out plans to carry out religious work more effectively.