Vietnam commends US human trafficking report

"Vietnam appreciates that the U.S. has made an objective assessment of Vietnam's positive results in fighting and preventing human trafficking," said spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang at a press meet on Thursday.

She was responding to inquiries regarding the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the U.S. Department of State on June 24.

Vietnam adjusted its law on fighting and preventing human trafficking in 2011, a move that had led the nation to ramp up its investigation of human trafficking cases. The country has ever since continued to bolster its human trafficking prevention mission and solutions with official plans through the 2021-2025 period, and a vision through 2030, Hang said.

"We have determined and provided support for victims of human trafficking and we have adapted to new challenges regarding the human trafficking situation on the globe," she added.

"Vietnam and the U.S. will continue to work closely and to regularly hold dialogues and discussions in order to actively and comprehensively assess Vietnam's achievements and efforts in fighting and preventing human trafficking in the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries."

Also on Thursday, upon responding to inquiries seeking comment on the U.S. putting Vietnam on its "special watch list" in a 2023 report on international religious freedom, Hang said it was "such a regret" that the U.S. put Vietnam on the list.

While the report did acknowledge certain progress by Vietnam in protecting and promoting religious freedom, it still made assessments that were unobjective and based on unverified information that does not accurately reflect the real situation in Vietnam, according to Hang.

"As a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country with a rich religious life, Vietnam has consistently issued policies that respect and ensure the freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam," she said. "No one is discriminated against based on religious beliefs and practices, and activities of religious organizations are protected by law."

Such rights have been stated in the Vietnamese Constitution and the laws, and are respected, the spokeswoman continued.

Vietnam is willing to exchange with the U.S. on issues of mutual interests, in the spirit of openness, candor and respect regarding differences, in order to contribute to the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, she added.

"Vietnam asks the U.S. to issue unbiased assessments based on accurate and comprehensive information of the actual situation in Vietnam, and Vietnam hopes for its rapid removal from the special watch list on religious freedom," Hang said.