The traditional Buddha bathing ritual at the 2014 Buddha's Birthday celebration. (Photo: VNA)

(VOVworld) – Vietnamese and US scholars and religious dignitaries discussed religious policies in their respective countries during a workshop held in Washington DC on Tuesday.

The event created an opportunity for participants to increase mutual understanding in the field.

Discussions focused on legal regulations regarding religious organisations, their property rights, new religions, and religious activities of foreign nationals.

Trinh Ngoc Thach, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Adolescents, and Children Affairs, said he believes the workshop helped the US scholars better understand Vietnamese religious issues and policies.

Thach noted that Vietnamese scholars also accumulated lawmaking experience from the US, adding that laws and policies must ensure both legal principals and the relative freedom and independence of religious organizations.

The workshop was jointly organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in the US, the US Department of State, the University of Social Science and Humanities under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi, and the Institute for Global Engagement.