President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (middle) meets with religious dignitaries, monks and priests in Hóc Môn District in Hồ Chí Minh City on Monday. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HCM CITY — President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said the State always respects the people’s right to freedom of religion and worship.

He made the statement at a meeting with religious dignitaries, monks and priests in Hóc Môn District in HCM City on Monday.

The President recognised and lauded the contributions made by religions to the district’s development.

"I'm happy to see almost all religious dignitaries, monks, priests and followers in the district have come together and collaborated with the local administration and residents in boosting socio-economic development while abiding by the law," he said.

The President said he highly valued the trust of religious dignitaries, monks and followers in the Party and State, and lauded the local administration and the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee in implementing religious policies.

Noting that hostile forces often make corrupt use of ethnic and religious issues to undermine the Party and State, President Phúc called on all Vietnamese, regardless of religion, to maintain solidarity and mutual support, and join hands to build a prosperous country.

He thanked religious dignitaries for their opinions, describing them as valuable contributions that will help the Party and State perform better in protecting people’s right to freedom of belief and religion.

He asked the local administration to work harder to care for the material and spiritual lives of religious practitioners and expressed his hope that all religions in the district will continue to stay united and encourage followers to live a “good life and follow a beautiful religion” and engage further in local socio-economic development.

Most Venerable Thích Minh Thanh, head of the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Board of Hóc Môn District, spoke highly of the Party and State's achievements as well as the Government's successes in the 2016-21 tenure.

Thanh expressed delight at the strong growth of HCM City and the district, pledging that he will work to encourage Buddhist monks, nuns and followers to join the upcoming general election, contributing to its success.

Priest Nguyễn Ngọc Vượng, head of the Hóc Môn Parish, highlighted the tradition of patriotism among local residents regardless of religion.

“The National Assembly has worked efficiently and met the aspirations of voters over the years,” he said.

President Phúc and other candidates running for seats in the 15th NA met with voters in the district on the same day.

He said he was “honoured and elated” to be nominated as a representative for the district in the NA, and promised he would do his best to serve the country and residents living in the district.

If elected, his action plan would focus on fulfilling the mission of being a representative for the people, which includes staying close to the people to understand their hopes and aspirations and convey them to the NA and other bodies of authority, Phúc said.

He promised to continue to implement the four development programmes in HCM City, which focus on improving the people’s living standards and the city’s competency, especially in the areas of science-technology transition, jobs and employment, housing, and cultural institutions for labourers.

“I will also encourage new initiatives and help the city become a role model in the country, as well as a strong competitor in the region in terms of innovation and talent attraction,” he said. — VNS