Vietnam slams U.S. for trade

Vietnam slams U.S. for trade

HANOI (AFP): Vietnam on Thursday denounced a recommendation by a U.S. federal commission that the U.S. Congress link ratification of a free trade pact to Hanoi making progress in allowing religious freedom.

"This is a ridiculous and unwarranted action which can only upset relations between Vietnam and the United States, which were gradually improving in line with the desires and interests of both parties," the official Communist Party newspaper Nhan Dan said.

In its annual report on Monday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a federal advisory body, made a series of policy recommendations designed to place a drive for religious freedom squarely in U.S. foreign and economic policy.

Vietnam, China, India and the Sudan were among the countries singled out for criticism in the report.