Hanoi (VNA) – As many as 1,250dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers attended the eighth congress of theVietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) that opened in Hanoi on November 21. The event was attended by Deputy PrimeMinister Vuong Dinh Hue, former Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen VanAn, former President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central CommitteePham The Duyet, and his successor Tran Thanh Man, international religiousdelegates, among others. General Secretary of the Communist Party ofVietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, and PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent congratulatory flowers to the event. Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and VFFPresident Tran Thanh Man presented flowers and congratulated Most VenerableThich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the VBS on the occasion. Addressing the opening ceremony, Most VenerableThich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the seventh tenure VBS Executive Council,highlighted that this congress upholds the goal of “wisdom, discipline, integration,and development”. That shows all Buddhist monks, nuns, andfollowers are determined to stay united to develop a strong VBS under the motto“Religion – Nation – Socialism”, he affirmed. The congress will look into nine targets setfor the 2017-2022 tenure, continue revising the VBS Charter in accordance withthe Law on Belief and Religion, and the development visions through 2030. He underlined the achievement the VBS hasgained over the past 36 years, saying that its chapters have been establishedin all 63 localities nationwide. It has hosted numerous important religiousevents and festivals, including the 50th anniversary of Quang Duc bodhisattvalighting himself on fire, and the revolution of the southern VietnameseBuddhists (1963); the 705th anniversary of the attainment of Nirvana ofKing-Monk Tran Nhan Tong. The VBS hosted successfully the UNInternational Day of Vesak 2014 under the theme “Buddhist Perspectivetowards Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals';inaugurated pagodas on Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, in border areas in CaoBang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh provinces. In the past tenure, numerous delegationswere sent abroad to help overseas Vietnamese communities and the Associationsof Vietnamese Buddhists were set up in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Angola andMozambique, while those in Laos and Cambodia have been consolidated. The VBS also raised billions of Dong for social,charity work during its past term, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon said. Addressing the event, Deputy PM Vuong DinhHue highlighted the Vietnamese Buddhism’s 2000-year journey of accompanying thenation and its significant contributions to the nation protection and building. Over the course, Buddhism has mingled withthe daily life and inspired Vietnamese people to follow its good values, Huesaid, adding that the history has attested the contributions the VietnameseBuddhists have made to the nation. He attached significance to the eighthcongress of the VBS, saying that it affirms the growth of the Vietnam Buddhism. The Party and State have acknowledged therole of the Vietnam Buddhism and its contributions to the national liberationand the current Doi moi (renewal), Hue said, calling on all dignitaries, monks,and nuns to continue showing the values of the religion. He expressed his hope that participants willselect capable members for the next tenure of the VBS, while encouraging monks,nuns and all people continue observing policies of the Party, State, fulfillingtheir citizen obligations and responsibility, ensuring solidarity, peace andharmony among Buddhists, with other religions and all people. The VBS will continue to serve as a bridgeconnecting with the Associations of Vietnamese Buddhists, Vietnamese expats, sothey will turn to the home country and join their hands in the nationalprotection, building and development, Hue said. According to the Deputy PM, the Staterespects and ensures the freedom of religion and belief practice, acknowledgesthe contributors to the nation, facilitates religious people to practice andfulfill their citizen obligations. For his part, VFF Chairman Tran Thanh Manhailed the achievements Vietnamese Buddhists at home and abroad have made tothe national great unity and national protection and building in the pasttenure, hoping that they will continue doing so in the next term. He suggested that the VBS send more monksand nuns to assist the religion’s affairs in the northern mountainousprovinces, the Central Highlands region, and the Khmer Theravada Buddhismin the Southwest and pay more attention to operations of the Associations ofVietnamese Buddhists overseas. At the occasion, dozens of dignitaries, individuals,and units were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the religion, andthe nation-building efforts.-VNA