Monk Thich Thanh Nhieu, Vice Chairman of the VBS’s Executive Council, addresses the closing session

The 2-day Congress agreed on 9 goals which included maintaining and promoting Vietnam’s Buddhist values to ensure the continuation of tradition and modernity, and contributing to the promotion of Vietnam’s characteristics in the international integration process. The VBS will expand external relations with foreign Buddhist organizations and deepen connectivity with overseas Vietnamese Buddhist Associations in line with the nation’s cultural diplomacy and people exchange policy.

The Congress selected 270 members of the VBS’s Executive Council for the 2017-2020 tenure.  Venerable Thich Pho Tue was again proclaimed Supreme Patriarch of the VBS.

Monk Thich Thanh Nhieu, Vice Chairman of the VBS’s Executive Council, says: “With the spirit “Wisdom, Discipline, Integration, and Development”, the Congress aims to improve the quality of the Executive Council staff. They will be a united and strong collective to manage Buddhist affairs and rally Buddhist followers with a spirit of responsibility and creativity to meet the demand of international integration.”