National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân on Wednesday visited the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Council to celebrate the Buddha’s 2,563rd birthday (May 12 this year). — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân on Wednesday visited the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Council on the occasion of Buddha’s 2,563rd birthday.

Ngân congratulated the VBS on successfully hosting the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak 2019 which took place in the northern province of Hà Nam from May 12-14, thus helping to promote Việt Nam’s image, role and position in the world.

Vesak 2019 would draw more international tourists to Việt Nam and turn the Tam Chúc Buddhism Culture Centre in Kim Bảng District, Hà Nam Province – the venue of the event - into a tourist destination, she said.

The top legislator reiterated the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy of respecting the rights to freedom of belief and religion, including Buddhism.

She lauded the VBS’s continuous efforts in promoting harmony, solidarity and unification within Buddhism.

Ngân said she believed the VBS would continue to encourage Buddhist monks, nuns and followers nationwide to implement the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, perform their civic duties and unite for national construction and defence.

For his part, Most Venerable Thích Thanh Nhiễu, Permanent Vice Chairman of the VBS’s Executive Council, said foreign delegates to the 16th UN Day of Vesak had applauded the favourable conditions the Vietnamese Party, Government, National Assembly and Việt Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee had created for the VBS to successfully organise the event.

Vesak 2019 attracted more heads of state and Buddhist monks, nuns and followers compared with the two previous events hosted by Việt Nam in 2008 and 2014, he said.

The UN General Assembly internationally recognised the Day of Vesak in 1999 to acknowledge the contributions of Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world. — VNS