§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Vietnam regarding the persecution of Christians in that country. [76612]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe condemn all instances of persecution of individuals for their faith or belief. The UK Government take every opportunity to press the Vietnamese government to adhere to its international human rights obligations: I raised human rights, including the position of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister Mr. Nien in June. Our Embassy in Hanoi is a leading player in the EU Human Rights Working Group which has a regular human rights dialogue with the Vietnamese Government. Religious freedom is raised in this forum, for example at its most recent meeting on 16 October.