The Minister of Minority Affairs from India, Shri Kiren Rijiju, addressed an opening ceremony for the United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City. The event coincided with the celebration and also featured addresses by the President of Vietnam, Mr. Luong Cuong; the President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake; a Sanghraja from Vietnam's Buddhist Sangha, Thich Tri Quang; among other leaders. Shri Rijiju conveyed greetings and messages related to India underlining deep links with Buddhism through initiatives like 'Mission LiFE' that advocates environmental awareness based on spiritual traditions. He invited followers of Lord Buddha to visit sacred sites in India and also highlighted the significance of holy Buddha relics being present in Ho Chi Minh City during this event, linking Indian culture and heritage.
Shri Rijiju further met President Luong Cuong of Vietnam where both reaffirmed support for strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership. This meeting marked a nod to existing multidimensional cooperation between India and Vietnam with acknowledgment from the Vietnamese leader towards India's goodwill gesture by sending Buddha relics to Vietnam for exhibition at Ho Chi Minh City.
Visits were also made by both Indian and Vietnamese officials to an exhibition of Indian sculptures related to Lord Buddha as well as digital restorations of Buddhist monuments from India. A comparative exhibition between Indian and Vietnamese Buddhist art and sculptures was acknowledged, highlighting over a millennium-old link that transcended only spirituality but included cultural and artistic exchanges.
The tone is professional, objective, and informative with factual information provided directly related to the minister's speech, his activities during the event in Vietnam, diplomatic interactions held, and cultural exchanges highlighted between India and Vietnam.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: A governmental organization, likely in India, responsible for minority affairs.
Shri Kiren Rijiju: Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs.
United Nations Day of Vesak: An internationally recognized day celebrating Vesak, a Buddhist holiday.
Ho Chi Minh City: A city in Vietnam, the location of the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations.
Holy Buddha Relics: Relics associated with Buddha, present in Ho Chi Minh City for the Vesak celebrations.
Vietnam: A country in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Luong Cuong: President of Vietnam.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - likely the source of the posted information.
President of Sri Lanka: The head of state of Sri Lanka.
Shri Anura Kumara Dissanayake: President of Sri Lanka.
Sanghraja of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha: A high-ranking religious figure in the Vietnamese Buddhist community.
Thich Tri Quang: Sanghraja of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Prime Minister of India: The head of government of India.
Shri Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India.
Lord Buddha: The central figure in Buddhism.
India: A country in South Asia.
Mission LiFE Lifestyle for Environment: An Indian initiative to promote awareness about environmental impact.
Government of India: The governing body of India.
Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Vietnam: A ministerial position in the Vietnamese government.
Politburo Member: A member of the political bureau.
Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City: A leading political figure in Ho Chi Minh City.
Sarnath: A location near Kashi (Varanasi) in India, significant in Buddhism, where the Holy Buddha Relics originated.
Kashi: An alternative name for Varanasi, a city in India.
Indian sculptures of Lord Buddha: Sculptures originating from India.
Buddhist monuments in India: Monuments located in India.
SSISA: Likely refers to a sports science institute. Insufficient context to determine the specific institution.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
Minority Affairs Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju addresses
opening ceremony of the United Nations Day of
Vesak
Shri Rijiju underlines significance of presence of Holy
Buddha Relics in Ho Chi Minh City coinciding with
the UN Day of Vesak celebrations
Shri Rijiju meets President of Vietnam, Mr. Luong
Cuong
Posted On: 06 MAY 2025 4:45PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju addressed the opening
ceremony of the United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City today, which was also addressed
by the President of Vietnam, Mr. Luong Cuong, President of Sri Lanka, Shri Anura Kumara
Dissanayake, Sanghraja of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Thich Tri Quang and other leaders. Shri
Rijiju conveyed warmest greetings and message on behalf of the Prime Minister of India, Shri
Narendra Modi. He noted that timeless teachings of Lord Buddha offer profound insights and
solutions to most of the present global challenges. He mentioned that India’s initiative of Mission
LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) to promote awareness about the impact of individual choices on our
shared planet was deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy. He also invited the followers of Lord
Buddha to visit the sacred sites associated with teachings of Lord Buddha in India and connect with
this living heritage. Shri Rijiju also underlined the significance of the presence of Holy Buddha
Relics in Ho Chi Minh City coinciding with the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations.Shri Rijiju separately met the President of Vietnam, Mr. Luong Cuong. While recognizing the healthy
progress in multi-dimensional cooperation between India and Vietnam, both leaders’ sides affirmed support
for further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Mr. Cuong
appreciated Government of India’s sending of Holy Buddha Relics to Vietnam. The President of Vietnam
accompanied by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Minority Affairs of India, the Minister of Ethnic and
Religious Affairs of Vietnam, Politburo Member and Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City paid their respects
to the Holy Buddha Relics brought from Sarnath near Kashi to the pagoda (temple) in Ho Chi Minh City.
Shri Kiren Rijiju also visited an exhibition of Indian sculptures of Lord Buddha as well as digital restoration
of Buddhist monuments in India on the sidelines of the United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam. He also visited a comparative exhibition of Buddhist art and sculptures in India and Vietnam which
brings out that over one and half millennia old Buddhist connections between the two countries extendedbeyond spirituality to the fields of art and culture.
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SS/ISA
(Release ID: 2127261)