Though the 2023 EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World reflected some achievements and progress Vietnam has made in protecting human rights, it continued to put forth a number of unobjective comments, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Thu Hang said on June 6.

Such comments were based on inaccurate information and failed to reflect the reality in the country, Hang said while responding to a reporter's query about the report at the ministry’s regular press conference.

"We have on numerous occasions stated that the protection and promotion of human rights is a consistent policy of the State of Vietnam," she said.

Vietnam always considers people the centre and the driver of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and the cause of socio-economic development, Hang noted, adding the country is constantly making efforts to improve people’s living standards and their rights to enjoyment.

"The basic rights and freedom of humans are acknowledged in the Constitution and law of Vietnam, and ensured and respected in reality," the spokesperson continued.

Hang stressed that Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in ensuring human rights have been widely recognised and appreciated by the international community.

According to the diplomat, the comprehensive cooperation and partnership between Vietnam and the EU is flourishing and Vietnam stands ready to cooperate with the EU in issues pertaining to human rights in the spirit of openness and respect in order to enhance mutual understanding through annual dialogues and other bilateral mechanisms.

"We believe that the promotion of discussions and dialogues through existing cooperation mechanisms will help the EU have full objective information and understand more rightly the protection and promotion of human rights in Vietnam, thus contributing to the enhancement of the Vietnam-EU relations," Hang said.

VNA