Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On April 30th, a UN Vesak Day celebration symposium themed "Promoting Buddhist Values and Fostering Global Peace and Cooperation" was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. Hosted by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, the event brought together representatives from various countries and international scholars to discuss the contemporary value and peaceful significance of Buddhist cultural heritage.
Participants pointed out that Vesak Day, commemorating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, is a core opportunity to inherit the universal values of Buddhism. They unanimously affirmed the role of Buddhist heritage as a "bridge of civilizations," believing that protecting Buddhist heritage, connecting pilgrimage sites, and deepening academic exchanges and cultural cooperation are effective paths to strengthen people-to-people interactions and build lasting peace, thus forging consensus among nations to jointly address global challenges.
Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, emphasized in his speech that Buddhist heritage possesses both spiritual value and practical significance. Against the backdrop of ongoing conflict, division, and a deficit of trust in the world, the core Buddhist values of peace, compassion, and interdependence offer enduring guidance for promoting international cooperation, reducing confrontation, and upholding a people-centered approach. He stated that Buddhism has been deeply integrated into Vietnam's history of nation-building and defense, becoming an important part of the national culture and spiritual life, continuously empowering social unity and promoting inclusive development.
Ambassador Do Hung Viet also reviewed Vietnam's successful hosting of the UN Vesak Day celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025. This event brought together numerous monks and devotees from around the world, with the welcoming of Buddha's relics from India to Vietnam serving as a vivid symbol of cultural exchange, national friendship, and unity. During the event, the Vietnamese delegation also screened a short video of the 2025 Vesak Day celebrations, visually showcasing the Vietnamese Buddhist community's deep integration with the Vietnamese nation and its active contribution to global peace and sustainable development. (End)
