Vietnamese, Lao border localities share experience in religious affairs

The event, held by the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Vietnam and the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee, aims to build a shared border of peace, stability and development.

Delegates agreed on the need to intensify the communication work among border residents, including religious followers, to promote the fruitful neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, long-term, sustainable cooperation between the two countries. 

The two sides should create conditions for religious dignitaries and followers to exercise their religions in line with law of each country, enhance information exchange and join hands in ensuring political security, and social order and safety in the border area, they said.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Trong Thua said cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in religious matters has been stepped up and reaped significant outcomes. 

Vice President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Khambay Damlat, said over the past time his front has instructed its chapters in the ten provinces that border Vietnam to exchange experience, and coordinate with the Vietnamese Government Committee for Religious Affairs to promote relations between hamlets and districts of the two countries and encourage their residents to attend religious festivals of each other. 

The chapters have also supported local authorities in encouraging residents to exercise their religions in line with law, and join efforts in fighting corruption and other bad deeds in the border area, he said.