President Tran Dai Quang congratulates Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers on Buddha's 2560th birthday (photo: VGP/ Gia Han)

Attending the ceremony, President Tran Dai Quang said the Party, state, and Vietnamese people have acknowledged and appreciated contributions of the VBS, Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers to national unity and national defense. “Over the past 35 years, since its establishment, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has continuously developed and obtained new achievements. With the motto “Dharma, nation, socialism”, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will continue to promote its role in national harmony, solidarity, and unity and contribute to national reform, industrialization, modernization, and global integration. The VBS has continuously expanded its external relations, connect overseas Vietnamese Buddhist followers with the homeland, and promote the status Vietnam’s Buddhism and the image of Vietnamese land and people to the world.”

President Quang said religious followers play an important part in ensuring the success of national reform, construction, and defense. “I ask Party Committees and administrative agencies at all level to focus more on communicating the Party’s guideline and state policies on religion to the public and support religions to operate within the law. It’s important to promote humanitarian values and morals of religions in general and Buddhism in particular to help build a healthy lifestyle, enhance national unity, and encourage religious followers to engage in national patriotic emulation campaigns.”

The President, Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers burned incense, exercise the Buddha bathing rite, and release doves to pray for peace and prosperity.