Prime Minister extends greetings on Lord Buddha's birthday
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended congratulations to Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers on the occasion of Lord Buddha's 2567th birthday (Vesak day), while visiting Quan Su Pagoda, the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), in Hanoi on June 2.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joins a ritual at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhextended congratulations to Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers onthe occasion of Lord Buddha's 2567th birthday (Vesak day), while visiting QuanSu Pagoda, the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Vietnam BuddhistSangha (VBS), in Hanoi on June 2.
The Government leader highlighted Buddhism’s companionship withVietnam over the past nearly 2,000 years, saying the religion has played animportant part in the spiritual and cultural life of Vietnamese people.
Buddhism has significantly contributed to nationalconstruction and defence, he said, adding that Buddhist activities have beenreformed over the past years, receiving the warm response of followers andpeople.
The PM also lauded Buddhism’s material and spiritualcontributions to the COVID-19 combat, as well as post-pandemic socio-economicrecovery and development.
Through the organisation of UN Day of Vesak for threetimes, the VBS has importantly contributed to the development of Buddhism globally,improving the position and role of Vietnam Buddhism, and promoting the image ofVietnam and its people to international friends.
Chinh used the occasion to thank the VBS, monks,nuns and followers both at home and aboard for their contributions to thecountry over the past time.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns. (Photo: VNA)
The leader affirmed the Party’s and the State’s consistentpolicy of respecting and ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion, andsuggested the VBS carry forward the tradition of solidarity, encourage monks,nuns and followers to follow guidelines of the Party, and policies and laws ofthe State, join patriotic emulation movements, and play a more activerole in charitable, humanitarian and social welfare activities.
For his part, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon,President of VBS’s Executive Council, said under the leadership of the Party,State, Government, Vietnam Fatherland Front, ministries and agencies, LordBuddha's 2567th birthday has been celebrated nationwide, testifying to religious freedom in a peaceful and united country.
Buddhism always accompanies the nation, he affirmed,informing that the VBS earmarks more than 2 trillion VND (85.21 million USD)each year to social welfare and charity.
He called for further support from the Party andState for the practice of Buddhist followers, and pledged that the VBS willcontinue guiding monks, nuns and followers across the country to observe theParty’s guidelines, the State’s policies, and the VBS’s chapter, thuscontributing to national construction and defence./.
With the long-standing bonds of the Kinh, Khmer, and Hoa ethnic groups, the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang boasts a special cultural identity that makes it an outstanding spiritual destination for tourists and Buddhist followers from far and wide.
Situated approximately 40 km from the centre of Hanoi, Khai Nguyen Pagoda (also known as Tan Vien Pagoda) is an ancient site located in Son Dong commune in Son Tay district. It dates back to the Ly Dynasty, which was established in the first half of the 11th century. The pagoda is renowned for having the largest Buddha statue in the area, standing at an impressive 72 metres.
State President Vo Van Thuong offered greetings to Buddhist dignitaries and followers on the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, while visiting Hue Nghiem and Minh Dao pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City on May 26.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joins a ritual at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA) 
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns. (Photo: VNA) 
