Party official celebrates Buddha’s birthday

      Ha Thi Khiet, a member of the Party’s Central Committee (PCC), paid a visit to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in Hanoi on April 27 to celebrate the 2553rd birthday of Buddha, according to the Buddhist calendar.
Khiet, who is also Head of the PCC’s Mass Mobilisation Commission, praised the great contributions made by Buddhist dignitaries and followers to Vietnam's past wars for national liberation and during the country’s current process of national construction.
She confirmed that the Party and State will do everything they can to respect and ensure the rights of freedom of belief for Buddhist dignitaries and their followers.
The Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Vice President of the VBS Executive Council, said that the VBS successfully held the fifth United Nations Day of Vesak (UNVD) 2008 thanks to assistance from the Party and the State.
He added that the upgrading and construction of new pagodas such as Bai Dinh, Yen Tu is also proof of the respect the Party and the State have for Buddhism
This year, Buddha’s birthday festival was held from April 8-15 of the lunar calendar in Hanoi.