The event taking place at Lao Cai provincial convention center saw the presence of Most Venerable Thích Thanh Nhiễu, Standing Vice President of the VBS’s Executive Council; Most Venerable Thích Gia Quang, Vice President of the VBS’s Executive Council; Senior Venerable Thích Đức Thiện, Vice President cum General Secretary of the VBS’s Executive Council; Most Venerable Thích Thanh Điện, Deputy General Secretary cum Standing Vice Chairman of the VBS’s Central Committee for Lay Buddhist Guidance; Prof., Dr. Đỗ Quang Hưng and Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyễn Hồng Dương, Former Directors of the Institute for Religious Studies under Vietnam Academy for Social Sciences; Prof., Dr. Vũ Minh Giang, Senior Expert, Vice President of Vietnam Historical Science Association; Assoc. Prof., Dr. Chu Văn Tuấn, Director of the Institute for Religious Studies under Vietnam Academy for Social Sciences.

Vice Chairwoman of the GCRA Trần Thị Minh Nga speaks at the event

Guests at the event included Vice Chairwoman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Trần Thị Minh Nga, Vice Chairman cum General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hầu A Lềnh, Secretary of Lao Cai provincial Party’ Committee Đặng Xuân Phong, and Deputy Minister of the Public Security Ministry Nguyễn Văn Thành.

Participants at the seminar

The seminar discussed and recommended measures for promoting Buddhist contributions and provisions of social services to people in the period of development and global integration.

Speaking at the seminar, Vice Chairwoman of the GCRA Trần Thị Minh Nga expressed hope that the seminar would gather valuable comments for practically promoting fine values of Buddhism and resources of the VBS for providing social welfare and services to people.

The GCRA official also believed that Buddhism would continue to be a leading religion in providing social services for communities, as well as promoting the tradition of “defending the nation – bringing peace to people” of its 2000 years accompanying with the nation.

NL