(VOVworld) – Hundreds of Buddhist monks, nuns and followers gathered to pray for peace in the East Sea at a ceremony held in Kien Giang province’s Dong Duong district.

Buddhists pray for peace in East Sea

At the ceremony, a representative of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha delivered the National Patriarch’s message of peace to Buddhists around the world. In the message, the Patriarch asked China to honor its duty to maintain peace and respect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of its neighbors, including Vietnam. The message criticized China’s illegal acts, which violate Vietnam’s sovereignty, calling on Buddhist followers to unite, trust in the Party and State’s policy, and stay vigilant against subversive plots.

After the ceremony, the Sangha donated 10,000 USD raised by Buddhist followers to the Vietnamese sea and islands defense fund.