Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with monks and nuns studying at the Vietnam Buddhist Institute in Hanoi on Sept. 3, as part of his visit to Vietnam, which began yesterday.
Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn, President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Executive Council, highlighted the development of Buddhism in Vietnam, saying the religion always plays a crucial role in tightening the friendship between the two countries.
He noted that Indian monks were the first to introduce Buddhism to Vietnam, arriving on sea trade routes, and creating cultural links between the two nations.
Buddhism has become an indispensable component of Vietnam’s culture over the past 2,000 years, he added.
Friendship between Vietnam and India has been reinforced based upon the foundation laid by first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Hồ Chí Minh, he said.
He also expressed his belief that India will become more prosperous and play a key role in building peace, stability, and development in the region and around the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Also, the Indian PM told the monks and nuns that the world needs peace, and pursuing peace will result in happiness for all.
He stressed that Buddhism brings hope, light, beliefs and peace, and expressed his hopes to welcome more Vietnamese monks and nuns to study Buddhism in India .
Source: vietnamnews.vn
