(VOVworld) - The US Department of State released its annual reports on the human rights situation in many countries, including Vietnam on Thursday. 

VOV's correspondent Nhat Quynh interviews Uzra Zeya, Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour in Washington DC

In an interview granted to VOV’s correspondent in Washington DC, Uzra Zeya, Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour said that the US acknowledged Vietnam’s human rights progress, especially in regard to religious freedom, citing an increase in the number of licensed places of worship.
She welcomed Vietnam signing the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and respecting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
Uzra Zeya said: “I believe that we do have some common understandings in human rights issues. The US appreciates and wants to continue regular human rights dialogues with the Vietnamese government, to not only facilitate progress in the issue but strengthen bilateral relations. The best means of doing that is through dialogue and engagement between the governments and societies. During a recent Vietnam visit, US Secretary of State John Kerry met with government leadership but also Vietnamese citizens, celebrated mass at a Vietnamese church. This kind of engagement with civil society is critical not only in our approach to human rights in Vietnam but our approach to human rights worldwide.”

Since normalizing diplomatic relations in 1995, the US and Vietnam have organized 17 dialogues on human rights. The two countries have openly discussed issues of mutual concern.