OVs in Laos commended for voluntary, charity activities (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Overseas Vietnamese with great contributions to the relief andfund-raising activities for Lao people suffering from natural disasters and diseases werehonoured at a ceremony at Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane on January 12.
Addressing theevent, Lao Minister of Home Affairs Thongchan Manixay highlighted that the managementboard of Phat Tich pagoda and Vietnamese Buddhist followers in Laos have made practical contributions and timelysupport worth up to billions of kip for Lao people living in difficulties nationwide.
He sincerely thankedVietnamese monks, nuns and Buddhist followers in the pagoda, as well as theVietnamese community and businesses in Laos for their assistance for Laopeople, especially those in disadvantaged, flood-hit areas, zones affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, localpagodas and centres for caring needy and disabled people.
Forhis part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung called on the Vietnamesecommunity in Laos to make more contributions and support Lao residents who are still facing difficulties in their life, thus contributing to nurturingand promoting the special relationship between the two countries.
On the occasion, a programme to raise funds for the restorationof Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane was launched.
Hung said he supports an idea to restore the pagoda, while calling forcontributions of Vietnamese people working and living in Laos, and those in thehomeland to the work.
After the launch,250,000 USD was raised from Buddhist followers, Vietnamese individuals and businessesoperating in Laos.
Phat Tich pagoda has made important contributions to developing Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos, promoting theclose relationship between the Buddhism of the two countries, and supporting Vietnamese and Lao disadvantaged people./.
