(VOVWORLD) -The UN Day of Vesak 2019 celebration wrapped up at Tam Chuc pagoda in Ha Nam province on Tuesday with the adoption of the Ha Nam Declaration promoting world peace, harmony, and improvement for all people.
International Buddhist leaders, delegates, and scholars and Vietnamese leaders attended the closing ceremony. In his closing speech, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said: “With the theme “Buddhist approach to global leadership and shared responsibilities for sustainable societies”, the event affirmed the core values of peace and wisdom in the teachings of the Buddha, more than ever to be popularized in today's society to build true and peaceful development for humanity."
"This year's Vesak international symposium gathered the wisdom and enthusiasm of more than 1650 delegates from more than 112 countries and territories which are summarized in the Ha Nam Declaration 2019, a commitment to promote world peace, harmony, and improvement for all people,” he said.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh addressed the closing ceremony, praising the outcomes of the event.
“Vietnam, the country of peace, continues to uphold the humanitarian, peace, friendship, and cooperation spirit of Vesak Festival 2019 to connect strength, solidarity, and the effort to act together for peace, cooperation and social progress. Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring freedom of beliefs and religions. Vietnam is working hard to improve the lives of people, especially the poor, people in remote areas and ethnic minorities; ensure social equality; and build a democratic, equal and civilized Vietnam,” Mr. Binh said.
The UN’s commemoration of Vesak has now been held three times in Vietnam. Previously, it took place in Hanoi in 2008 and in Ninh Binh province in 2014.