HCM City (VNS/VNA)- Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan hasextended best wishes to religious dignitaries and followers in thecity on the occasion of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, which startsthis weekend (January 25).

Visiting the Office 2 of the VietnamBuddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee, Nhan, on behalf of the city’sleaders, extended their best regards to Buddhist dignitaries, monks,nuns and followers throughout the country. 

Nhan praised the VBS’sactivities in recent years, especially its social and charitable activities,saying that the contributions of Buddhist dignitaries andfollowers will continue to improve the SBV’s development. 

Last year, the VBS raised 2.4trillion VND (103.4 million USD), of which the HCM City BuddhistSangha raised more than 550 billion VND for charity, humanitarian andsocial activities in the city, according to Nhan.

He also praised the VBSfor organising the UN Day of Vesak 2019.

On the same day, Nhan and thedelegation also visited and offered best wishes to the HCM City Archdiocese,sending best wishes for health, happiness and peace to priests, localCatholic dignitaries and followers.

Nhan praised the contributionsof the Bishop and Catholic dignitaries and followers, especially fortheir charitable and environmental protection activities.

In 2019, Catholic dignitariesand followers contributed more than 100 billion VND (4.3 million USD)to the city’s social security, education and healthcare activities. 

Nhan said that he hoped theywould continue to join hands with local residents to further the city’ssocio-economic development.

Archbishop Nguyen Nang alsowished Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and the city’s leadersgood health.

HCM Cityauthorities have recently announced the Thu Thiem CatholicChurch complex and Thu Thiem Congregation of the Lovers of the HolyCross in District 2 will be preserved as national relics at thecity level under the Cultural Heritage Law, according to Nhan.

“This shows the city’srecognition of the great contributions of the Catholic community to the city’sdevelopment,” Nhan said.

On the same day, Nhan visitedand extended regards to Chairman of the VBS’s Executive Council Most VenerableThich Thien Nhon at Minh Dao Pagoda in District 3.

Nhon said the UN Day ofVesak 2019 attracted over 10,000 Buddhist dignitaries, monks,nuns and followers from 120 countries. “The VBSwill continue to contribute to the cause of national construction anddevelopment.”

In addition, Nhan also visitedand send wishes to Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, First Deputy Supreme Patriarchof the VBS, at Hue Nghiem Pagoda in District 2.

He also visitedand sent Tet greetings to Cardinal Jean Baptiste Pham MinhMan, former Archbishop of the HCM City Archdiocese.

The same day in Hanoi, Chairmanof the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung visited the HanoiSt Cathedral Parish, to extend his new year wishes to theleader, Pastor Anton Nguyen Van Thang, and the religiousfollowers.

He informed the catholicfollowers there about Hanoi's authorities' policies to ensure that all socialpolicy beneficiaries and poor households will have a warm Tet holiday.

Chung on the occasion haspresented Tet gifts to 60 strugglingfamilies in the area./.