On February 26, according to Thanh Nien news, at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha coordinated with the International Organizing Committee for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV) and representatives of relevant agencies to hold the second press conference on the organization of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025.
At the meeting, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Hoai Bac said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is very interested in and regularly directs ministries, branches and localities to focus on guiding and helping the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to successfully organize the 4th United Nations Vesak Festival in our country and the first in Ho Chi Minh City.
Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Hoai Bac (standing) said that the Vietnamese Government has approved the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to organize a procession of Buddha Shakyamuni's relics from India to enshrine them within the framework of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Day.
PHOTO: Organizing Committee
Mr. Vu Hoai Bac confirmed that the Vietnamese Government has agreed in principle to the contents proposed by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the overall scenario of events taking place before the opening ceremony, the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony and cultural events of the festival.
In particular, the Vietnamese Government approved the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to organize the procession of the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni from India and receive the "Immortal Heart" relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc from the State Bank of Vietnam to enshrine for Buddhists to worship within the framework of the grand ceremony. The relics of Buddha Shakyamuni are the national treasure of India, and inviting them to another country must be approved by the Government of the Republic of India and comply with security and protocol principles; through diplomatic channels at the Government level. The "Immortal Heart" relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc are currently enshrined and protected at the State Bank of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City branch.
Overview of the meeting
PHOTO: Organizing Committee
Speaking at the meeting, Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit, President of ICDV, highly appreciated the solidarity and harmony of Vietnamese Buddhism in coordinating the organization of the 4th United Nations Vesak Celebration in Vietnam. At the same time, he expressed his confidence in the success of the celebration in Ho Chi Minh City.
The ICDV Chairman also noted that through the three successful organization of the previous Vesak, Vietnam has gained a lot of experience. With the agreed points, summarized from the content of the first meeting in September 2024 and the active support from the Vietnamese Government, the Ho Chi Minh City government shows a very positive signal for the success of this great festival.
Speaking on behalf of Ho Chi Minh City leaders, Mr. Duong Ngoc Hai, Permanent Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said that as the host of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival, Ho Chi Minh City has implemented many projects such as renovating the traffic system and infrastructure around the second campus of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City (Binh Chanh District), renovating Lang Le Park, increasing trees and environmental landscapes, etc.
Permanent Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee speaking at the meeting
PHOTO: Organizing Committee
According to Mr. Duong Ngoc Hai, organizing the United Nations Vesak 2025 has special significance because in the near future, Ho Chi Minh City will celebrate important events such as the 50th anniversary of national reunification... Successfully organizing the United Nations Vesak 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City will bring positive impacts, creating a special mark on the cultural and social life of the city, contributing to promoting the image of the country, Vietnamese people in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular to international friends.
On this occasion, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Hoai Bac also requested the inter-sectoral working groups, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces of Tay Ninh, Long An... to speed up the progress of related works on infrastructure, traffic, accommodation, sightseeing activities, fire prevention and fighting... to ensure convenience, absolute security, safety and great success for the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival in Ho Chi Minh City.
Delegates visited and inspected construction items and infrastructure at the second campus of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City - the main venue for the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak.
PHOTO: Organizing Committee
The United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 will be held from May 6 to 8 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City (Le Minh Xuan campus, Binh Chanh district). The main theme of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 is "Harmony and Inclusion for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development".
The festival is expected to have 80 countries participating. 2025 will be the fourth time Vietnam will host this important event, following the success of the United Nations Vesak Festival at the My Dinh National Convention Center (Hanoi) in 2008, at Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh Province) in 2014, and at Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam Province) in 2019.
Thanhnien.vn
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