US' annual human rights report not reflective of reality in Vietnam

Vietnamese children

The 2018 annual human rights report of the US Department of State does not reflect the true situation in Vietnam, said the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang in response to reporters’ queries during a regular press conference in Hanoi on March 14.

Though the report acknowledges some of Vietnam’s achievements in the protection of human rights, it still contains some unbiased statements based on inaccurate information and does not reflect the real situation in Vietnam, she said.

The fundamental rights of freedom of Vietnamese citizens are stipulated in the country’s Constitution and law in accordance with international treaties on human rights which Vietnam is a member to, and these rights are respected and ensured in reality, Hang said.

Vietnam’s efforts and significant achievements in the field have been internationally recognised and highly appreciated, she added.

Regarding economy-society, the annual average per capita GDP continued to increase in 2018. The rate of poor households was reduced to 5.35 percent, down 1.35 percent compared to 2017. Meanwhile 87.7 percent of local people benefited from health insurance, up 2.31 percent against 2017.

In the ongoing 2018-2019 academic year, the country has more than 23.5 million students, up over 1 million against the previous school year. Nearly 70 percent of the population has access to the internet.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) working group of the UN Human Rights Council adopted a report on the third review of Vietnam on January 25, 2019.

Gaining trust from the international community, Vietnam will host the UN Day of Vesak in May 2019.

Vietnam is willing to discuss with the US within current frameworks about issues of mutual concern in the spirit of frankness, openness, and mutual respect, contributing to increasing mutual understanding and prompting the bilateral comprehensive partnership, the spokesperson said.