A/HRC/41/2 exchanges during the 32nd session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group in January 2019. 390. After the session, Viet Nam carefully examined the 291 recommendations received during the Universal Periodic Review Working Group session in January 2019 and decided to accept 241 of them (83 per cent). The review of the recommendations involved the agencies responsible for their implementation, socio-political organizations, professional organizations, and the public. Additionally, Viet Nam took initial steps to develop a master plan to assign tasks to various government agencies and incorporate the implementation of universal periodic review recommendations into many key national strategies and programs. 391. In just nearly six months since the session in January, the continued efforts of Viet Nam in promoting human rights have been manifested in new undertakings. During its recent seventh session, the National Assembly of Viet Nam reviewed, revised and adopted a number of important laws such as those related to human rights in the fields of criminal justice, education, health, and social security. On an important note, the National Assembly ratified the International Labour Organization Convention No. 98 on the right to organize and collective bargaining, fulfilling the recommendations made by a number of countries during the interactive dialogue in January. 392. More than 50 new decrees and circulars related to human rights had been enacted, especially those related to improving public service, facilitating people’s participation in policy-making and promoting labour rights. The issue of labour rights had been also reflected in agreements between Viet Nam and its international partners, especially the Free Trade Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement signed between Viet Nam and the European Union on 30 June 2019. 393. About 75 per cent of the population of Viet Nam had access to the Internet on a daily basis. Over 64 million social media accounts were active on a single platform and millions more on other foreign and home-grown social networks. Three additional religious organizations were granted legal status, bringing the total of recognized organizations to 43, along with thousands of registered religious groups. Viet Nam successfully hosted, for the third time, the United Nations Buddhist Vesak Day in May 2019 with the active participation of 20,000 international and local participants. In the first two quarters of 2019, economic growth was expected to reach 6.8 per cent. The Government has also spent more than 200 million United States dollars on social welfare and support for the vulnerable groups. The poverty rate is expected to decrease by 1-1.5 per cent in 2019. 394. Regarding civil and political rights, Viet Nam accepted important recommendations for promoting legal reform and the rule-of-law, upholding the independence of the Court, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, including freedom of speech and of the press online, guaranteeing freedom of association and assembly, labours rights and the right to access to information and ensuring the consistent implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion. 395. Regarding economic, social and cultural rights, Viet Nam accepted many substantial recommendations for enhancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; poverty reduction and social welfare; improving the people’s livelihood and access to services; protecting vulnerable groups, supporting development in remote areas, foster new rural development, and promoting climate change and environmental protection initiatives. 396. Aiming at strengthening the institutions of human rights protection, Viet Nam accepted practical and effective recommendations, which corresponded to its priorities and circumstances, such as those on incorporating the provisions of human rights treaties to which Viet Nam is a party into domestic law; studying the possibility of additional 69