On the morning of May 6, the opening of the United Nations Vesak 2025 was attended by Politburo member and President Luong Cuong; former Politburo member and former President Truong Tan Sang; Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia; Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; Party Central Committee member, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh; representatives of ministries, central departments, branches, leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and provinces and centrally run cities.
Attending the opening ceremony were the President of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lankara Anura Kumara Dissanayaka; The Venerable Venerable Thich Tri Quang, the Dharma Church of the Vietnam Buddhist Church; The Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Deputy Dharma of the Council of Proof, Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Church Council, Chairman of the UN International Organization Committee of the UN 2025 in Vietnam; Venerable GSTS Brahma-Pundit, Chairman of the International Organization Committee of the United Nations Vesak Ceremony (ICDV); Together with members of the International Organization Committee of the UN Vesak Ceremony 2025.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Politburo member and President Luong Cuong said that Buddha was born more than 2,600 years ago, the core values of the Doctrine of compassion - Intelligence that he taught are still relevant to today's humanity. The spirit of compassion, tolerance, quantity, Forgiveness and Sharing that Buddha has declared, is and will forever be a source of inspiration in the journey to create a world of peace, peace and sustainable development.
The Vesak Festival - the anniversary of three important events in the life of Buddha: birth, death and conversion to New Year's Eve - this special event is not only meaningful to millions of Buddhists around the world, but also an opportunity for everyone to worship and spread the noble values of Buddhism: compassion, intelligence and peace.
According to President Luong Cuong, in Vietnam, the Vesak Festival is a major international religious event of great significance to Buddhists and people who are affectionate with Buddhism around the world, including Buddhists, the country and the people of Vietnam.
"We welcome and highly appreciate the theme of the Vesak 2025 Festival: "Solidarity and tolerance for humanity: Buddhist teachings for World Peace and Sustainable Development". This is a meaningful message in the context of the world facing many challenges such as conflict, inequality, climate change and social ethics crisis.
I suggest that we need to include Tam Tu Bi in policies, include Tri Tue in development orientation, promote the spirit of No Fault - Vi Tha, that is, doing everything is not for oneself but always thinking about the interests of the masses", President Luong Cuong emphasized.
The Venerable Venerable Thich Tri Quang, the Dharma Church of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam earnestly called on each Buddhist to always be diligent in practicing, can enter the compassionate Tam Muoi, spread love to sentient beings, lighting this world with tolerance and intelligence. "With all the sacred meaning of the anniversary of the Buddha's birth, I want all Buddhist children around the world to unite, harmonize and actively and humanity to create the real world of peace and peace," said the Venerable Thich Tri Quang.
This year's Vesak Festival is not only a gathering place for the global Buddhist community but also a valuable opportunity to introduce and honor the profound cultural, artistic and spiritual values of Buddhism, contributing to the richness of world culture.
The 2025 Vesak Festival is co-organized by the United Nations Committee for the consideration of the Vesak Festival and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
This is the fourth time Vietnam has hosted this important international Buddhist event, after successful holding them in Hanoi (2008), Ninh Binh 2014 and Ha Nam (2019).
The 2025 Vesak Festival will attract the participation of representatives from 85 countries and territories, taking place from June 6 to May 8 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.
