With a long history, rich traditions and cultural and religious values, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) is not only a religious organization with the mission of propagating Buddhism but also an important bridge in people's foreign affairs, promoting friendly relations between Vietnam and the international community.
Prime Minister congratulates Buddhists on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday 2024 |
Buddhist organizations contribute to maintaining peace, harmony and mutual understanding |
Strengthen international cooperation, actively participate in people's friendship organizations
The VBS has built close cooperative relationships with many Buddhist organizations around the world and actively participated in international forums, becoming a founding and core member of important organizations such as the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB), the Asian Buddhist Forum for Peace (ABCP), the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the International Organizing Committee for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV).
These relationships not only promote religious exchanges but also play an important role in people-to-people diplomacy, enhancing understanding and solidarity among countries, especially in Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Asia. The VBS also maintains friendly relations with Buddhist organizations in Laos, Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, India, etc., making an important contribution to promoting peace, stability and cooperation in the region.
In addition, the VBS also actively participates in people's friendship organizations such as the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association, the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association, the Vietnam - India Friendship Association, etc. Representatives of the Church have played a bridging role in strengthening solidarity between the Vietnamese people and other countries, through participating in people's diplomacy activities, organizing many cultural exchange events and international Buddhist exchanges.
Imprints from the successful organization of the United Nations Vesak Festival
One of the most important events that the VBS has organized is the three United Nations Vesak celebrations in 2008, 2014 and 2019. This event not only attracted the participation of thousands of delegates from more than 100 countries but was also an opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its position in the international arena.
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| Buddha bathing ceremony at Vesak 2014 in Vietnam. (Photo: VnExpress Newspaper) |
In particular, the Vesak 2019 celebration held at Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ha Nam with the theme "Buddhist approach to global leadership and shared responsibility for sustainable society" contributed to promoting the image of Vietnam and its people to international friends. The event was attended by many heads of state and leaders of international organizations, demonstrating Vietnam's international influence in the field of religious diplomacy.
The success of the Vesak celebrations has not only introduced the spiritual values of Vietnamese Buddhism, but also marked an important milestone in enhancing Vietnam's prestige and position in the international community, especially in the field of people-to-people diplomacy.
International charity work and people's diplomacy
The spirit of compassion and charity of Vietnamese Buddhism is not limited to the country but also spreads widely through international charitable activities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the VBS has supported medical supplies and finances to India, Laos, Cambodia and Sri Lanka, helping these countries overcome difficulties. This is not only a manifestation of compassion but also contributes to strengthening solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and neighboring countries, enhancing Vietnam's humanitarian position in the eyes of international friends.
In addition, in localities, the VBS has also organized many charitable activities, supporting ethnic minority groups and disadvantaged communities. Events such as Vu Lan Festival, Lunar New Year, Vesak Festival, along with free medical examination and treatment programs, and building bridges and roads in remote areas have become bridges to promote international understanding and cooperation.
In particular, the VBS actively participates in the “Nurturing Friendship” program, providing scholarships and accommodation support for Lao and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam. These are efforts to strengthen friendship between the young generations of Vietnam and neighboring countries, creating long-term and sustainable cooperation.
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| Venerable Ly Hung, abbot of Pitu Khosa Rangsey Pagoda (Can Tho) during a lecture for students staying at the pagoda. (Photo: VOV) |
Interfaith dialogue and international exchange
The VBS has actively participated in international interfaith and cultural dialogue forums, especially in United Nations programs and regional forums such as the ASEAN Interfaith and Cultural Dialogue, the Asia-Europe Interfaith Dialogue and the Asia-Pacific Interfaith Dialogue. These activities have helped the VBS spread the message of peace, love and social responsibility in the international community.
In 2022, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council, represented the VBS at the 7th World Religious Leaders' Congress in the Republic of Kazakhstan. At this event, the VBS's message of religious solidarity and solving global problems such as conflict, poverty and climate change was widely spread, demonstrating Vietnam's responsibility in joining hands to solve international challenges.
In her speech at the seminar "International activities of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the current period" in 2022, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, then President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, highly appreciated the proactive and positive role of the VBS.
She affirmed: “The people-to-people exchange and diplomacy activities of the VBS have contributed to consolidating the great national unity bloc, enhancing friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese people and people of other countries, enhancing cultural exchanges, introducing to international friends the history, cultural beliefs, religions, country and people of Vietnam, enhancing the international position and prestige of Vietnam, spreading Vietnamese cultural values, and at the same time promoting the role of Buddhism in mobilizing resources for people-to-people diplomacy activities.”
In recognition of the positive and virtuous contributions of the VBS and its monks to peace, solidarity and friendship among nations, the Presidium of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations has awarded the Medal for Peace and Friendship among Nations to many monks of the Church.
In the future, the VBS will continue to promote foreign affairs activities, especially hosting the United Nations Day of Vesak in 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a great opportunity for the VBS to affirm its role and position, contributing to enhancing the image of Vietnam in the international arena.
Delegates from 80 countries attend the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak in Vietnam At the press conference on September 27, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said: The 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival will be organized by the International Organizing Committee of the United Nations Vesak Festival and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha with the support of the Vietnamese Government from May 6-8, 2025 at Campus II of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City. The 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations with the theme “Harmony and Inclusion for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development” will be attended by about 2,000 delegates, including about 1,000 international delegates from 80 countries around the world. According to Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak in Vietnam is not only a major event of Buddhism but also an important foreign event that contributes to enhancing the role of Vietnamese Buddhism in international integration and affirming Vietnam's position and responsibility towards the United Nations. In addition, the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak is also a cultural and people-to-people diplomatic event, an opportunity to promote the image, people and culture of Vietnam to the world. To date, the Vesak Festival has been held 24 times, including 15 times in Thailand, 1 time in Sri Lanka and 3 times in Vietnam. The Vesak Festivals in Vietnam were held in 2008 in Hanoi, 2014 in Ninh Binh and 2019 in Ha Nam. |
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