1,200 delegates attend the 8th National Congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (Photo: VNA)

The Congress focuses on promoting the disciplines, solidarity, and development of the VBS in international integration.

“Vietnamese Buddhists have been contributing a lot to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, including new rural development, poverty reduction, emulation and charitable programs. It shows that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) is a patriotic religious organization and closely linked to the nation," Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue told the opening ceremony. 

"The Vietnamese Party and State appreciate and have high hopes for VBS’s role in past national liberation struggles and the current renovation, based on ensuring the freedom of religions and beliefs, national solidarity, and religious unity and equality,” he added. 

At the congress, delegates also discussed important issues relating to the development of VBS and the amendment of the VBS charter in compliance with the Law on Religion and Belief, which will take effect next January. More than 1,200 Buddhist dignitaries and followers, representatives of the Vietnamese Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front, and a number of foreign guests attended the event.