On behalf of Party and State leaders, Politburo member and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on May 6 visited and congratulated the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee, monks, nuns, and followers on the Buddha’s 2564th birthday.

Politburo member and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh
(sixth, left) visit the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee in Hanoi
on May 6 (Photo: VNA)

He said the Buddha's birthday, which falls on May 7 this year, is not only an important religious event for Buddhists in Vietnam but also an international celebration recognised by the UN General Assembly in 1999.

Appreciating the dedication of Buddhists to the country throughout history, he said they have also joined hands in the fight against COVID-19, helping Vietnam control the pandemic, win plaudits from the World Health Organisation and other countries, and promote people’s trust in the Party and State’s leadership.

However, Binh noted, as the pandemic’s developments remain unpredictable, the VBS should continue encouraging monks, nuns, and followers to comply with Party and State directives on prevention and control of the disease, limit mass gatherings, organise religious activities that suit the situation, and contribute to national development.

For his part, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Permanent Vice President of the VBS Executive Council, noted that since the COVID-19 broke out, the VBS executive boards in cities and provinces nationwide have called for the donation of hundreds of tonnes of rice for people facing pandemic-related difficulties. They have also presented medical supplies to aid prevention and control.

Upholding its traditional solidarity with the entire nation, the Sangha will continue to request monks, nuns, and followers to adhere to Party and State directives, thus helping promote economic growth and ensure social security, he added.