Politburo member Bình wished all Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and laypeople peace and happiness in their Vesak celebration, hailing the festival as an important religious event in the spiritual and religious life of Buddhist people in Vietnam.

He underlined the significant contributions of Vietnamese Buddhism to national construction, protection and development throughout history.

Monks, nuns and Buddhists have always upheld solidarity in the Buddhist spirit of compassion, joining the nation and local authorities in effectively implementing socio-economic development and national construction & defence tasks, while actively participating in charity activities, the deputy PM said.

Informing Buddhist dignitaries about the COVID-19 situation, he stated that Vietnam has made effective efforts to curb and control the disease, winning high appreciation from the World Health Organisation and other countries alike.

Lauding the active contributions of monks, nuns and laypeople nationwide to the country’s common missions, he said that the pandemic remains unpredictable, requiring proper guidelines and high vigilance to prevent reoccurrences, towards both effectively combating the disease and ensuring socio-economic development.

Permanent Deputy PM Trương Hòa Bình presents congratulatory flowers to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee.

Deputy PM Bình asked the VBS to encourage monks, nuns and Buddhists to strictly implement the Party and State’s directives on COVID-19 prevention and control, restrict crowds, apply appropriate religious practice methods amid the disease, and further contribute to national socio-economic development, so that Vietnam continues to be a bright spot in epidemic prevention and control, as well as in socio-economic development.

For his part, Most Venerable Thích Thanh Nhiễu, Permanent Vice President of the VBS Executive Council, affirmed that the sangha will continue directing monks, nuns and Buddhists to strictly comply with the Party and State’s directives, as well as promoting economic growth and ensuring social security.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Executive Boards of the VBS chapters in cities and provinces nationwide have mobilised the donation of hundreds of tonnes of rice to support those affected by the pandemic, as well as medical equipment, masks and hand sanitiser to serve COVID-19 prevention and control, he stated.

Source: en.nhandan.org.vn