The government leader was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng, Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Vũ Hoài Bắc and Vice Chairwoman of the GCRA Trần Thị Minh Nga.

Welcoming the guests included Deputy Patriarch cum Deputy Secretary of the Central the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Discernment Council Thích Thanh Dũng and Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn, Deputy Patriarch cum President of the VBS’s Executive Council.

On behalf of the Party and the State, PM Phạm Minh Chính extended joyful celebrations of Vesak Day to all Buddhist monks, nuns and lay followers at home and abroad.

The PM affirmed that since Buddhism was introduced into Vietnam, the Buddha's Birthday Festival has become a sacred holiday for Buddhists nationwide, in honor of Buddhist traditional values of compassion, wisdom, solidarity and development, and a great opportunity for Buddhist monks, nuns and lay followers to recall Buddha’s life and teachings. Throughout thousands of years, it has become a popular spiritual and cultural festival of the society, bringing with a message of love, solidarity, harmony and development, he added.

According to the PM, over the past year, the VBS has accompanied with the nation and contributed to national construction and defense. In addition, through the successfully organization of UN Day of Vesak for three times, the VBS has made an important contribution for the development of Buddhism globally, contributing to enhance its position and role in the international arena, and affirming the Party’s and the State’s consistent policy of respecting and ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion.

The PM also highly appreciated practical contributions made by the Buddhist community to the society and the country over the past years. He expressed hope that the VBS at all levels would make greater efforts to complete the tasks of the ninth term of the VBS (2022 – 2027) with the principles "Discipline - Responsibility - Solidarity - Development", and guide Buddhist monks, nuns and lay followers practice the religion according to the motto “Dharma – National – Socialist”, contributing to building and protecting the country.

The PM suggested along with other religions, the VBS would continue promoting the great national solidarity, actively engaging social and charitable activities, educating patriotism amongst people, and resolutely preventing acts of abusing religion and belief to sabotage the State, nation and people or seeking individual benefits.

For his part, while Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn, President of VBS’s Executive Council expressed his sincere thanks for the government leader’s visit and said that together with Buddhist followers in the globe, monks, nuns and lay Buddhists in the country has been celebrating the Vesak Day 2024 in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.

Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn expressed hope to receive further support from the Party and State, and relevant agencies for Buddhist practices of followers, and pledged that the VBS will continue guiding monks, nuns and lay followers across the country to observe the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies, and the VBS’s charter, contributing to national construction and defense.

AK