HCM City (VNA) – State President Vo Van Thuong offered greetings to Buddhist dignitaries and followers on the birth anniversaryof Lord Buddha, while visiting Hue Nghiem and Minh Dao pagodas in Ho Chi Minh Cityon May 26.

The anniversary is celebrated by Buddhist monks, nuns, andfollowers in the fourth lunar month every year to not only pay tribute to LordBuddha but also honour the fine ethical and cultural values of Buddhism insociety.

Talkingto Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Patriarch of the Patronage Council of theVietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) at Hue Nghiem Pagoda, President Thuong offered greetings to the Patriarch, the VBS, monks, nuns, and followers both at homeand abroad.

He saidBuddhism is currently one of the important religions in Vietnam and has greatinfluence on the society. It is a patriotic religion that has accompanied thenation throughout the history and made significant contributions to nationaldevelopment and safeguarding.

The Stateleader hailed the VBS’s unceasing development and activities for the sake ofthe religion and the society, particularly encouraging monks, nuns, and followersto comply with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, fulfillcitizens’ obligations, and engage in poverty reduction and humanitarian campaigns,thus helping enhance the great national solidarity.

He affirmed the Party and State’s consistent policy ofrespecting and ensuring people’s right to freedom of belief and religion,creating conditions for religious organisations to operate in line with the Constitutionand laws, and bringing into play the fine cultural and ethical values ofreligions to contribute to national development.

Highlighting the significance of the birthanniversary of Lord Buddha, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang expressed hisdelight that under the Party’s leadership, Vietnam has been developing stronglyand enjoying a growing stature in the world, adding that he believes thecountry will obtain even greater achievements in the coming time to secureprosperity and happiness for all people.

The dignitary also mentioned Vietnam’s successfulorganisation of celebrations of the UN Day of Vesak, which marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha,thrice.

Meeting with Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon,President of the VBS’s Executive Council, at Minh Dao Pagoda, State President Thuong voicedhis hope that the VBS will uphold traditions of the Vietnamese Buddhism andcontinue encouraging monks, nuns, and followers to contribute more to nationaldevelopment in the new period.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon highly valued assistance fromParty and State leaders, along with all-level authorities, for the VBS’s activities.He also called on the State leader to keep supporting and creating favourableconditions for Buddhist followers to practice the religion and help with the national development./.