Closing of the United Nations Vesak Festival 2025

The 2025 United Nations Vesak Celebration with many meanings, full of solidarity, sharing and joy, took place in recent days in Ho Chi Minh City and ended on the morning of May 8.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh , Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the United Nations International Vesak Organizing Committee Most Venerable Brahmapundit... attended the closing ceremony of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival.

Member of the Politburo , Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh attended and spoke at the closing ceremony.

Attending the closing ceremony were Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, leaders of several central ministries and branches; Most Venerable Elder Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Chairman of the National Committee for the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak; Most Venerable Brahmapundit, Chairman of the United Nations International Committee for Vesak (ICDV); international delegates; Venerable dignitaries of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; monks, nuns, Buddhists, etc.

Before attending the closing ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh and delegates paid homage to the Buddha Sakyamuni's relics - a national treasure of India and a sacred treasure of humanity. The Buddha's relics are the crystallization of the spirit of compassion, wisdom, and courage, and the embodiment of the vow of selflessness and altruism.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh affirmed that the successful hosting and organization of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City is a clear mark, showing the increasingly enhanced role of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the international Buddhist community.

A strong call to promote international cooperation, creating a peaceful world

The 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival will be attended by over 2,700 domestic and international delegates, including many heads of state, leaders of countries, representatives of the United Nations, more than 1,350 international delegates from 85 countries and territories, along with tens of thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhists and people with Buddhist beliefs around the world. This year's Vesak Festival was held with great solemnity and dignity, and is an international religious-cultural event of great scale and stature.

The ceremony took place at a very special time. The entire Vietnamese people have just solemnly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025); are looking forward to the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025) and are actively preparing to enter a new era, an era of prosperity and happiness for the nation.

In that joyful and proud atmosphere, the Vesak flag, a symbol of noble humanistic ideology, peace, friendship and international cooperation, was once again raised high, flying in the sky of Vietnam, a peace-loving country.

The success of the Great Festival once again affirms the noble responsibility of Buddhism in the face of global issues; is a powerful testament, affirming many humanistic values ​​and great achievements of the country and people of Vietnam.

The festival is also an opportunity for Buddhists around the world to connect spiritually, foster solidarity and promote the noble values ​​of Buddhism. In recent days, the quintessence of Buddhist thought, wisdom and compassion has spread widely, becoming a bridge connecting peoples, religions and cultures together. All share the same noble wish to promote the spirit of tolerance, harmony and kindness to build a world of peace, cooperation and lasting happiness for humanity.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres once said: "The Buddha's timeless teachings of peace, compassion and service to others are the path to a better, more understanding and harmonious world for all." This was clearly demonstrated by this year's United Nations Day of Vesak.

The success of the 2025 Vesak Celebration with the theme "Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insight for World Peace and Sustainable Development" once again affirms the noble responsibility of Buddhism in the face of global issues.

The festival is a great source of inspiration, awakening faith and stirring up good energy in every human being; affirming the core values ​​of Buddhism such as compassion, mindfulness and ethics, capable of showing effective and sustainable paths to solve current global problems and challenges, from comprehensive human development, environmental protection, to building a solid peace; is a strong call to promote international cooperation to create a world of peace, justice and sustainable development for the common benefit of all humanity.

During his lifetime, beloved President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "Vietnamese Buddhism and our nation have shared the joys and sorrows throughout thousands of years of history." That fine tradition is not only protected but also continues to be strongly promoted. The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha always upholds the spirit of compassion and wisdom, arouses patriotism and solidarity, creates a solid foundation for the great national unity bloc, makes an important contribution to building a peaceful society, and increasingly promotes the great role of Buddhism in the cause of national construction and development.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh believes and hopes that international guests and delegates will bring the message of Vesak 2025 in Vietnam with the belief in a peaceful and beautiful life to countries, territories and the world community.

The role of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is increasingly enhanced in the international Buddhist community.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh affirmed that the successful hosting and organization of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City is a clear mark, showing the increasingly enhanced role of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the international Buddhist community and in enhancing dialogue on global issues, preventing conflicts, promoting social justice and sustainable development. This is also a vivid demonstration of Vietnam's commitment to disseminating the Buddha's teachings.

After 40 years of renovation, Vietnam has achieved great and historic achievements, including efforts and achievements in implementing the United Nations' millennium goals, the material and spiritual life of the people has been constantly improved, the poverty rate has decreased significantly. Vietnam is assessed by the United Nations as a bright spot in poverty reduction, a symbol of peace, stability, hospitality, and an attractive destination for international investors and tourists.

"Also at this Forum, I can share with you that in 2025, Vietnam will exempt tuition fees for children, complete the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses and build new houses for people with meritorious services, poor households and near-poor households (with about 223,000 houses). We will also soon have solutions to reduce the burden of medical costs, moving towards exempting hospital fees for people in the period of 2030-2035. The compassionate Buddha always wishes, watches over, blesses and urges us to do such virtuous and thoughtful deeds," said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh.

At the same time, the First Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that in religious life, Vietnam always implements a consistent policy of respecting and protecting people's freedom of belief and religion, ensuring equality and non-discrimination on the basis of belief and religion.

Under the leadership of the Party and State of Vietnam, over the years, people of all ethnic groups and religions have always been united, attached, and actively participated in the cause of national construction and development, contributing significantly to socio-economic development, ensuring social security, humanitarian charity, and together with the State taking care of the poor and disadvantaged, leaving no one behind. Vietnam will continue to make more efforts so that the Vietnamese people can have a more prosperous and happier life, for the goal of a rich people, a strong country, and a fair, democratic, and civilized society.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh stated that the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak in Vietnam was a great success. The success of the event is a strong testament to the many humanistic values ​​and great achievements of the country and people of Vietnam.

That is: Affirming the cultural tradition of peace, compassion, kindness, and love of peace of the Vietnamese people. Affirming the correct policy of freedom of belief and religion of the Party and its effective implementation in reality.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh and delegates paid homage to the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni - a national treasure of India and a sacred treasure of humanity.

At the same time, it affirmed the clear results in caring for and improving the material and spiritual life of the people, which were demonstrated by the participation of millions of people in the events of the Great Festival with a joyful, confident, sacred and orderly spirit. It affirmed Vietnam's position, international prestige and proactive responsibility in participating in solving global issues.

On behalf of the Government and people of Vietnam, the host country of the Great Festival, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh respectfully thanked the delegates representing the United Nations, international guests, and all delegates, monks, nuns, and Buddhists from near and far who enthusiastically responded, attended, and contributed their wisdom and efforts to the success of the Great Festival; saying that the success of this year's Great Festival shows that Vesak is an important festival of the world Buddhist community, which needs to be maintained and organized annually.

At the same time, the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister sincerely thanked and appreciated the efforts of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, congratulated the success of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and members of the International Organizing Committee (ICDV), the Organizing Committee of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025, the support of central departments, ministries, branches and relevant local authorities, international and Vietnamese news agencies... who have devoted much effort and dedication, making an important contribution to the 2025 Vesak Festival achieving the expected results; believed and hoped that international guests and delegates would bring the message of Vesak 2025 in Vietnam with the belief in a peaceful and beautiful life to countries, territories and the world community.

According to Government Newspaper

Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/be-mac-dai-le-vesak-lien-hop-quoc-2025-postid417673.bbg