Press Release
Right Honourable Prime Minister’s Visit to Viet Nam – Day 4
Rt Hon. Prime Minister Mr. K. P. Sharma Oli attended Opening Session of the 16th UN Vesak Day celebration organised in the Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam province of Viet Nam today. This year, Vesak Day is being celebrated under the theme of ‘Buddhist approaches to Global Leadership, Shared Responsibilities for Sustainable Societies’.
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister also addressed the gathering.
In his speech, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister spoke about the importance of Vesak Day. He mentioned that Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, is not only the birth place of Prince Siddhartha, but also the fountain of Buddhism. He spoke about the virtues and values of Buddhism that are even more relevant in today’s world which faces a number of common problems, including poverty, inequality, climate change, and many more. With reference to this year’s theme, the Prime Minister said that today’s leadership can learn from Buddha’s exemplary lifestyle marked by simplicity and moderation. The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister referred to recent political transformation achieved by Nepal. “Happiness depends both on the external nature and the inner self, Buddhism has the answer to both” he said, and added that Nepal’s national aspiration of Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali “can be realised in the land of Buddha, the land of Peace”.
Leaders and a large number of followers of Buddhism, including monks from Nepal, are participating in the celebrations. Besides the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Nepal, the attending leaders include the President of Myanmar, Vice President of India, Prime Minister and other leaders from Viet Nam itself, Chairman of the Senate of Bhutan, etc.
The Programme will continue for three days, from 12 to 14 May.
In the evening today, Viet Nam’s Prime Minister H. E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse hosted an official dinner in honour of Nepal’s Prime Minister and his spouse. In his remarks, the host Prime Minister expressed his happiness over the first ever official visit of Nepal’s Prime Minister, and expressed hope that the visit would be instrumental in further promoting bilateral ties between Viet Nam and Nepal. In his reply speech, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister thanked Viet Nam’s Prime Minister and the Vietnamese Government for the generous hospitality, and for all the arrangements made to facilitate the visit. He committed himself to doing his best to expand and deepen Nepal’s relations and cooperation with the friendly country of Viet Nam. Political leaders and high-ranking officials of Viet Nam also attended the dinner.
During both the programmes today, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and Madam were accompanied by Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Advisors to the Prime Minister, Parliamentarians, senior officials of the Government of Nepal, Ambassador of Nepal to Viet Nam Dr. Khaga Nath Adhikari and other members of the delegation.
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister reached Hanoi on 9 May on an official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of H. E. the Prime Minister of Viet Nam. He is leaving Hanoi for Phnom Penh tomorrow morning on an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Embassy of Nepal
Bangkok
12 May 2019