President Luong Cuong attends the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City in Le Minh Xuan commune, Binh Chanh district. Photo: Thanh Vu/VNA

President Luong Cuong attended and delivered a congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony. Also attending the ceremony were leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; leaders of central departments, ministries, and branches, Ho Chi Minh City, and a number of localities; Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, along with the Venerables of the Council of Patriarchs, the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; the Executive Boards of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in 63 provinces and cities, and prominent Buddhists.

On the international side, there were President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, representatives of the United Nations, leaders of several countries; Buddhist Kings, Supreme Patriarchs, Dharma Masters, Presidents of Buddhist organizations, and prominent monks from over 80 countries and territories around the world .

President Luong Cuong and delegates attend the opening ceremony of the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak - Vesak 2025. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

Reading the Vesak 2025 Message at the opening ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Council, shared that 2025 is a year of great significance for Vietnamese Buddhism and the Vietnamese people. This is the first time the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has organized the United Nations Vesak Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, right on the occasion of the people of the whole country celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification, the North and South reunited as one family.

“On the occasion of the sacred Vesak, I earnestly call on each of us, the Buddhists, to always diligently practice, to enter into the Samadhi of Compassion, to spread love to all living beings, to light up this world with the light of compassion and wisdom. With all the sacred meaning of the Buddha's birthday anniversary, I wish all Buddhists in the world to unite, be in harmony and actively work with humanity to create a world of peace, joy and happiness,” Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang emphasized.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Patriarchal Council, President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and Chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak, delivered a welcome speech. Photo: Thanh Vu/VNA

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Vice Patriarch, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Chairman of the National Organizing Committee of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak, emphasized that the 2025 Day of Vesak is not only an occasion to commemorate three great events in the life of the Buddha, but also a day of global cultural and spiritual convergence, where humanity together looks towards the universal values ​​of Buddhist wisdom: compassion, wisdom and peace for today's world. The theme of this year's Vesak is a more urgent message than ever, carrying a humane, profound and contemporary meaning that the Buddhist community wants to send to the whole world.

Most Venerable Elder Thich Thien Nhon said that, looking back on the historical journey, Vietnamese Buddhism is proud to have contributed to the heroic victory of the nation, contributing to the formation of Vietnamese bravery and intelligence with the immortal heart of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc and countless generations of monks, nuns and Buddhists who have devoted themselves to the cause of national liberation. The heroic historical journey of the past 50 years clearly shows that the path of development that the Vietnamese people are taking is the path of solidarity, tolerance and of a society where everyone can live in peace, happiness and tranquility. That path is bringing the country into a new era, an era of national growth, prosperous development and prosperity.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka expressed his honor to attend the United Nations Vesak Festival held in Vietnam - a miraculous country that has achieved extraordinary achievements of perseverance, courage and determination despite the difficulties of the consequences of war; affirming the spiritual values ​​of Buddha on compassion, kindness, peace as well as the core values ​​of religion that peace is more valuable, especially in the context of the world still having many instabilities, people in some places are still suffering from inequality, suffering the tragedy of being victims of war.

President Luong Cuong and delegates at Thanh Tam Pagoda. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

Expressing his impression of the careful preparation and organization of the 2025 Vesak Festival, Most Venerable Professor, Dr. Brahmapundit, Chairman of the International Organizing Committee for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV), highly appreciated and thanked the support of the Vietnamese Government and the cooperation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha for creating the best conditions for the success of the 20th Vesak Festival in 2025.

Venerable Brahmapundit emphasized that the content of Vesak 2025 not only meets the concerns of Buddhists but also addresses global issues that the United Nations and humanity are facing. The theme of Vesak 2025 aims at solidarity, tolerance, peace, demonstrating the spirit of Buddhism for humanity, caring for human happiness and encouraging the Buddhist community to cooperate and accompany the sustainable development of the whole world.

Messages from United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres; leaders of India, Russia, Cambodia, Thailand, Buryatia (Russian Federation) and speeches from Buddhist leaders of China, Laos, Myanmar... at the opening ceremony highlighted the good meaning of the United Nations Vesak Festival; the spiritual value of the Buddha's life and the core values ​​of Buddhist philosophy on compassion, solidarity between people, harmony with nature to build a good life, peace, sustainable development in the context of today's volatile world.

According to baotintuc.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/theo-dong-thoi-su/tieng-noi-doan-ket-vi-hoa-binh-va-phat-trien-tu-dai-le-vesak-2025-153304.html