An overview of the opening ceremony of the 9th National Buddhist Congress in Hanoi on November 28, 2022. (Photo: Vietnam Buddhist Sangha)

Addressing the event, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam always takes on the interest in religions and their work and has promulgated policies and laws to ensure people's freedom of belief and religion.

The 13th Party Congress said that the cultural and moral values of religion should be preserved and improved and tapped for national development, he said.

Mr. Phuc asked the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha during the 2022-2027 tenure to promote the values of Buddhism and the tradition of national defense and public security, and affirm the position of the Sangha in Vietnam.

“The Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front hope that the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha in the new term will continue to unite Vietnamese monks, nuns and followers at home and abroad to uphold patriotic tradition and accompany the nation, contribute to national unity and harmony, well implement patriotic emulation movements, and join efforts to successfully realize the goal of building Vietnam into a strong, democratic, fair and civilized country with rich people,” said President Phuc.

The 2-day Congress, which concludes on Tuesday, will name the Supreme Patriarch of the Patronage Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and elect the Chairman of the Executive Council until 2027.