Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh asked for the completion of all preparations for United Nations Day of Vesak 2019 celebrations on May 10.

Vesak 2019, or the 16th UN Day of Vesak, will be celebrated at the Tam Chuc Buddhism Culture Centre in Kim Bang district of northern Ha Nam province from May 12-14.

Binh stressed that this will be one of major events held by Vietnam in 2019.

The successful organisation of the event will help international friends understand more about the Party and State’s policies on religion and contribute to promoting the image of Vietnamese land, people and culture to the world, he affirmed.

The Deputy PM requested the Foreign Ministry to carry out diplomatic activities on the sidelines of the event, and the Ministry of Home Affairs to work with relevant localities to well prepare the working agenda as well as speeches delivered by Party and State leading officials at the event.

The Ministry of Public Security was required to ensure social security and order, traffic safety, firefighting and rescue missions before, during and after the event.

Binh also asked the Health Ministry to stay ready to deal with unexpected circumstances and ensure food safety, while urging the Ministry of Information and Communications to coordinate with the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education in stepping up dissemination on the Vesak 2019.

According to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, around 500 foreign delegations with about 1,650 members from 112 countries and territories will attend the Vesak 2019 celebration, together with 15,000-20,000 domestic Buddhist followers and people. More than 500 speeches by domestic and foreign scholars will be delivered at the event’s meetings.

The Vesak 2019 celebration is themed “Buddhist Approach to Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Sustainable Societies”.

It will be the third time the UN’s commemoration of Vesak is held in Vietnam. Previously, it took place in Hanoi in 2008 and the northern province of Ninh Binh in 2014.

The UN General Assembly on December 15, 1999 recognised the Day of Vesak to celebrate the thrice-sacred event of the life of the Buddha Gautama and to acknowledge the contributions Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made to humanity.

The UN Day of Vesak was first celebrated in 2001.

VNA/VNP