Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Lam on May 21 visited and extended his greetings to Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Patronage Council, at Vien Minh pagoda in Phu Xuyen district, Hanoi on the occasion of Lord Buddha’s 2,557th birthday.

Lam conveyed his wish for peace and happiness to the Patriarch and the Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers on the occasion.

He stressed that the recent successful 7 th National Congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will pave the way for the Sangha to continue strengthening its organisation.

The VFF Central Committee highly values the contributions of the Vietnamese Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers to the successful implementation of the national socio-economic and cultural development tasks, helping ensure political security, social order and safety, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and strengthening national solidarity.

Lam expressed his belief that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will continue promoting its role as a VFF member to positively participate in VFF patriotic movements, while building on its tradition of “protecting the nation and solace for the people”, practically contributing to strengthening the national unity bloc.

Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue thanked the VFF, affirming that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will further its efforts to contribute to happy and peaceful lives for people, while guiding its followers to fulfil their duties as citizens and adhere to all State policies and laws.

On the occasion, a broad range of activities to celebrate the anniversary of Buddha’s birth took place in many localities nationwide.-VNA