Vientiane (VNA) –An international symposium was held in Vientiane on December 9 to discuss thehistory and development orientations of Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos.

The event was co-organised bythe Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), the Lao National Academy of Social Sciences’Institute of Social Sciences, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences’Institute for Religious Studies.

In his speech, Vice Presidentand Secretary General of the VBS’s Executive Council Venerable Thich Duc Thien saidthe event aims to look into the formation and development of VietnameseBuddhism in Laos, its contributions to the Vietnamese people living in Laos aswell as the development of the host country, thus strengthening the bilateralspecial friendship.

Vice President of the VBS’sExecutive Council Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem said the event affords achance to help overseas Vietnamese in Laos stabilise their lives and strengthentheir religious belief in the country.

The organising board received30 reports by religious dignitaries, researchers and managers from the twocountries, with a focus on the role of the VBS in the development of VietnamBuddhism community in Laos, that of Buddhism in the Vietnamese community inLaos, Vietnamese and Lao Buddhism in Lao national construction and development,and solutions to difficulties met by Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos.

On the occasion, the VBSCentral Committee and the National Liaison Committee for former Vietnamese voluntary soldiers andexperts in Laos presented 550 gifts to war veterans and families that helpedVietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts in the past, and families ofVietnamese and Lao Buddhists across Vientiane./.