At the visiting reception

The delegation of Ratanakiri province was led by Director of the provincial Cult and Religion Department Tepnara, and joint by Senior Venerable Kim Sopheap, Head of the provincial Buddhist Executive Committee cum Abbot of Oyadav Khmer Theravada pagoda; Senior Venerable Hum Xaynong, Vice Chairman of the provincial Buddhist executive committee cum Abbot of Bokeo pagoda.

At the visiting reception, Vice Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Thanh Lịch thanked the Buddhist community in Ratanakiri province for their practical support for finding, gathering and repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteers and experts who died during the war in Cambodia over the past years. She also expressed hope that Buddhism in the two provinces would tighten solidarity and friendship through cultural-religious exchanges in the coming time.

Vice Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Thanh Lịch presents souvenir to the delegation

On the same day, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’chapter in Gia Lai hosted a reception for the visiting delegation from Ratanakiri province.

Joining the visiting reception taking place at Buu Thang pagoda included Chairman of Gia Lai provincial Committee for Religious Affairs Hồ Hải Tần; Most Venerable Thích Từ Vân, Chairman of the VBS executive committee in Gia Lai; and Senior Venerable Thích Tâm Mãn, Standing Vice Chairman of the VBS executive committee in Gia Lai.

At the reception in Buu Thang pagoda

During the reception, Most Venerable Thích Từ Vân informed the guests about the development of the VBS and Buddhist affairs in Gia Lai province over the past years.

Senior Venerable Kim Sopheap thanked the VBS chapter in Gia Lai for their warm reception and emphasized that despite of differences between Buddhist traditions, the two Buddhist sects can learn from each other in order to promote unity and harmony.

NL t/h