(VOVworld) - The 2014 United Nations Day of Vesak opened at Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh province on Thursday.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung spoke at the event (photo: VGP)

Speaking at the event, Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said the event aims to foster friendship and unity while pushing back poverty and misery: “Since Buddhism entered Vietnam nearly 2,000 years ago, it has stood shoulder to shoulder with the nation, striving for national independence, freedom, and happiness for all. In Vietnam, freedom of religion and belief is fully enshrined in the Constitution and key laws”.

Many party and State leaders and religious dignitaries attended the opening ceremony

Messages from the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and speeches by Buddhist representatives from Cambodia, China, Laos, Srilanka and India were delivered at the opening ceremony. A Buddhist from Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Thi Ba, joined a Buddha bathing and pigeon release ritual to pray for peace:“This is a noble day as it takes place every 6 years in Vietnam. As a Buddhist I devoted my self to Buddha’s teachings and was very honored to participate at this event.”

Five seminars on Buddhist contributions to fulfilling UN millennium development goals will be held during the event due to end on Sunday.