Domestic and foreign delegates to the international workshop on Buddhism’s role in Asia and Vietnam’s efforts to promote its national culture (Photo: Lan Anh)

(VOVworld) – About 100 delegates from the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia gathered in Quang Ninh to discuss Buddhism’s role in Asia and Vietnam’s efforts to promote its national culture.

In recent years, several Asian countries including Vietnam have seen the rapid modernization of Buddhism, bringing new vitality to the religion and integrating it better into society. In the current globalization, it is very important to improve the role of Buddhism, according to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. He said:

“Buddhism first came to Vietnam more than 2,000 years ago. It has accompanied the country’s history and become a central part of the Viet culture. During the nation’s development, Buddhism has continuously changed and integrated, contributing to the promotion of the religion itself and the national culture. Buddhism has played a major role in Vietnam’s industrialization, modernization, and international integration.”

Meeting participants discussed their experiences in tapping Buddhism to preserve and develop their national cultures. The Most Venerable Thich Duc Nghiep, Vice President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said:

“The history of Vietnamese Buddhism is an important part of Vietnam’s history. The cultural materials, ideas, morality, and the Vietnamese Buddhist lifestyle have created the core character of Vietnamese culture. In the current international integration and economic globalization, cultural integration is a necessity for every nation.”