Journalist: Mr. Chairman, this is the second time the UN Day of Vesak held in Vietnam after the first one successfully hosted in Hanoi in 2008. Please let readers of the Information Centre know about the origin and significance of this event?

Mr. Phạm Dũng: Vesak is the name of the 4^th month of the year according to Indian calendar. Indian people who have some kind of beliefs regard Vesak as a sacred month because the full moon of this month coincides with the three important events in the life and the cause of the Buddha Shakyamuni: his birthday, his enlightenment and his passing away. Therefore Vesak celebration, often regarded as Buddha’s thrice sacred events, occurs on the full moon of the vesak month, which corresponds to the month of May in Christian calendar. In history, Vesak festival has been celebrated in several Buddhist countries, from Shri Lanka to Thailand …

On December 15, 1999, on proposal of thirty-four countries for honoring and promoting the Buddha’s values of ethics, culture, peace, friendship and unity, at 54^th conference, the program’s agenda item 174, the General Assembly officially recognized the Vesak celebration as the UN Day of religious cultural festival (UN Day of Vesak), commemorating activities world be held annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices from the year 2000 onward. In 2001, first time the UN Day of Vesak was solemnly held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with representatives from 34 Buddhist countries. Since then, the UN Day of Vesak was held annually at the UN Headquarters in New York and regional offices.

The UN Day of Vesak celebration often has many contents, including religious activities, seminars on Buddhism’s contribution to societies, exhibitions, performance of cultural and folk arts, visits to Buddhist beauty spots and relic sites… The time and venue for UN Day of Vesak each year will be decided by the hosting country.

Within the UN framework, the UN Day of Vesak may be hosted by different and respective countries. In 2008, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam hosted the UN Day of Vesak for the first time, which had the participation of delegates representing 74 countries and territories, and was regarded as the most successful celebration of UN Day of Vesak that ever held.

Journalist: Mr. Chairman, this is the second UN Day of Vesak held in Vietnam, please let us know the differences between this UN Day of Vesak 2014 and the one held in 2008?

Mr. Phạm Dũng: We all need to emphasize that wherever and whenever the UN Day of Vesak is held, and what ever the change in the theme of the UN Day of Vesak each year, the UN Day of Vesak will always be an international cultural and religious festival initiated by the UN, which encourages countries to host this important international event.

We all know the UN Day of Vesak 2008 was hosted by the Vietnam Government in coordination with the International Organizing Committee of UN Vesak Day (IOC) and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. The UN Day of Vesak 2014 have certain differences as compared to the one held in 2008 in Hanoi in terms of the hosting institution, venue, theme and scale of the celebration …

Hosting institution: On proposal by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Prime Minister has approved for the Sangha to host the UN Day of Vesak 2014. Although, the UN Day of Vesak 2014 will still be held in the UN framework and sponsored and supported by the hosting country.

Venue: the UN Day of Vesak 2008 was held in the National Convention Center in Hanoi. For the UN Day of Vesak 2014, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha suggested to organize main activities in the Bai Dinh cultural and spiritual area (Ninh Binh province). In parallel and addition to main activities in Bai Dinh (Ninh Binh), the Vienam Buddhist Sangha has instructed Vienam Buddhist Sangha chapters in provinces and cities around the country to respond and organize activities accordingly and in the framework of Vesak celebration in localities.

Main theme: the UN Day of Vesak 2008 was held with the theme “"Buddhist Contribution to Building a Just, Democratic and Civil Society'' with seven topics, attracting attention and interests of large number of Buddhists around the world. For the UN Day of Vesak 2014, the International Organizing Committee of UN Vesak Day (IOC), the Organizing Committee of UN Vesak Day 2014 and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has approved its main theme as “Buddhist perspective towards achieving the UN millennium developments goals”…

Funding: As planned by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, all expenses in the preparation and organization of the UN Day of Vesak 2014 will be taken care of by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and financed by funds raised from social sources. However, from wherever funds are raised, they belong to people’s money and need to be managed and used properly, effectively and efficiently.

From above-mentioned differences we can see that: Firstly, by actively hosting and organizing international Buddhist events of large scale, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has demonstrated its strength and prestige, thus improving its position in Vietnam and abroad. Secondly, the Bai Dinh – Trang An cultural and spiritual complex, with Bai Dinh pagoda – a Buddhist establishment founded in Dinh–Le dynasty as its focal point, has been compressively upgraded and newly constructed. The organization of the UN Day of Vesak 2014 in Bai Dinh pagoda has the meaning of returning to the spiritual and religious origin, reflects the thousand-year Buddhist tradition and show the expansion and scale of a Buddhist establishment capable of hosting a great cultural and religious event at international level and within the UN framework. Thirdly, the UN Day of Vesak 2014 is not only a religious event but also a cultural one. In five aspects of UN Day of Vesak requested by the International Organizing Committee, two aspects are attached to the hosing country’s practice, namely the culture and the spiritual, religious tourism, image of Vietnam. The UN Day of Vesak 2014 in Bai Dinh, Ninh Binh province is a good opportunity for Ninh Binh province in particular, and Vietnam in general, to introduce the country of Vietnam, its people and culture to friends in Vietnam and abroad.

Journalist: So, it can be understood that the most important difference in the UN Day of Vesak 2014 is the hosting institution of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Could you share more about the significance of the approval by Vietnam Government for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to host this great event?

Mr. Phạm Dũng: Firstly, the fact that Vietnam is the host country of the UN Day of Vesak (for second time) demonstrates Vietnam Government’ interests and active response in the implementation of programs within the UN framework and initiated by the UN, and affirms Vietnam as an active member in implementing UN millennium goals. Secondly, the Government’s approval for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to host the UN Day of Vesak 2014 reflects the Party and State’s guideline and policies for respecting belief and religious freedom, including that of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. At the same time, it demonstrates Vietnam Government’s foreign policy of openness, diversity and activeness, with focus to people and cultural diplomacy. Specifically, the UN Day of Vesak 2014 is kind of religious diplomacy. Through this diplomacy, Vietnam invites friends and Vietnamese overseas to come to Vietnam, together develop Vietnam into a friendly, prosperous and beautiful country. Thirdly, the Government’s approval for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to host the organization of the UN Day of Vesak 2014 creates an opportunity for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to assert themselves and their position within the nation and Buddhism in the world. Fourthly, creating favorable conditions for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to host the organization of the UN Day of Vesak 2014 show live connection between religion and the secular life, meet legitimate spiritual and religious needs of Buddhist dignitaries and followers.

Journalist: Could you please let us know about the preparation for the UN Day of Vesak 2014 by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and State’s roles in supporting the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the UN Day of Vesak 2014 Organizing Committee?

Mr. Phạm Dũng: To ensure efficient organization and success of the UN Day of Vesak 2014, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has set up the UN Day of Vesak 2014 Organizing Committee. This Committee consists of sub-committees to take care of different organizational aspects, namely: content, reception, culture, information and communication, decoration, protocols, darma propagation, secretariats, linguistic interpretation, logistics, fund raising,… The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has prepared a master plan for the UN Day of Vesak 2014 and submitted to competent state authorities for approval. There are only a few days remaining before the UN Day of Vesak 2014 taking place. Currently, preparatory tasks has been quickly carried out and completed by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the UN Day of Vesak 2014 Organizing Committee and its Sub-committees, so as to ensure the organization of the UN Day of Vesak 2014 according to the master plan and its success.

Although the UN Day of Vesak 2014 hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Government of Vietnam has given its support and assistance as well as provided guidance throughout the preparation and organization of the event. Implementing the Prime Minister’s instruction, the inter-ministerial Joint Working Group, headed by the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs cum Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, and consisting of members from concerned miniseries, agencies and localities, was set up to provide support and guidance to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the preparation and organization of the UN Day of Vesak 2014. The Joint Working Group has functions assigned by the Prime Minister to provide guidance and support to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the preparation and organization for ensuring success of the UN Day of Vesak 2014. Accordingly, members of the Joint Working Group and concerned agencies have worked closely together and actively collaborated with  ministries, agencies and localities for helping the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in most of aspects relating to the UN Day of Vesak 2014, such as reception, diplomacy, domestic and international guess; linguistic interpretation, printing, publishing, documentation; immigration, security, fire prevention, road mapping and transportation; food and medical hygiene, health care for delegates; preparation of meeting rooms, space and environment for the celebration; information and communication, artist and cultural affairs; decoration, accommodations, logistics for delegates, organizational matters … The Vesak celebration will be participated by thousands of students and youth as volunteers to provide assistance and service relating to the organization of the event.

Therefore, not only the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha but also concerned ministries, agencies and localities and masses of people have been actively supporting the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, working together with the UN Day of Vesak 2014 Organizing Committee in order to complete preparatory tasks, all with longing and hope that an cultural and religious festival of the UN presenting friendship, human values, unity and peace will again be successful organized in the country of Vietnam.

Journalist: Thank you very much!