Delegates at the conference (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – The first Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Buddhist Leaders’ Conference was held in the Lao capital city of Vientiane on November 12, aiming to promote the development of Buddhism in the countries as well as regional exchange in the religion. The conference saw the attendance of President of the Lao Front for National Construction Saysomphone Phomvihane, President of the Lao Buddhist Coalition Most Venerable Ngon Damlongboun, Cambodia’s Great Supreme Patriarch Most Venerable Monk Tep Vong and Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, along with nearly 600 delegates from the countries. In his opening remarks, President of the Lao Buddhist Coalition Most Venerable Ngon Damlongboun highlighted the special significance of the event to Buddhism and people in the three countries as it is a step forward to realise documents signed by Buddhist organisations in the … [Read more...] about Buddhist leaders in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia step up cooperation
Buddhist countries in southeast asia
Vietnamese president arrives in New Delhi to boost bilateral ties
By Reuters  March 3, 2018 | 02:15 pm GMT+7 Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang (C) and his wife Nguyen Thi Hien (R) visit the Mahabodhi temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and important pilgrimage destination for Buddhists, in Bodhgaya in India's Bihar state on March 2, 2018. Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang is on a three-day visit to India. Photo by AFP/ Vietnam and India share security concerns about the aggressive advancement of China in disputed waters. Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang landed in Indian capital New Delhi on Friday night as a part of his three-day visit to India with key focus on revisiting bilateral security ties between the nations. Quang was received by Indian junior defence minister, Subhash Bhamre. Quang's visit is focused primarily on China's growing misadventures in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, along with diverse areas of interests like nuclear energy, agriculture, trade and investment. Before … [Read more...] about Vietnamese president arrives in New Delhi to boost bilateral ties
Unique traditions to welcome New Year in Asia
1. The Water Festival in Southeast Asia The water festival is the New Year's celebration that takes place in east and South-east Asia in Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. April 13th marks the beginning of the traditional celebration. People traditionally celebrate by going to temples and visiting family during the annual public holiday. But since April is one of the hottest months in Southeast Asia, some countries celebrate with a several days long water festival. It is called the 'Water Festival' by Westerners because they see people splashing or pouring water at one another as part of the cleansing ritual to welcome the New Year. Traditionally people gently sprinkled water on one another as a sign of respect, but as the new year falls during the hottest month in Southeast Asia, many people end up dousing strangers and passers-by in vehicles in boisterous celebration. The act of pouring water is also a show of blessings and good wishes. It is … [Read more...] about Unique traditions to welcome New Year in Asia
UN says 87,000 refugees arrive in Bangladesh from Myanmar
A total of 87,000 mostly Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh since violence erupted in neighboring Myanmar on August 25, the United Nations said Monday, amid growing international criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi. Thousands of the stateless Muslim minority have fled the mainly Buddhist nation and poured over the border since the latest round of fighting broke out, piling pressure on the already overcrowded camps in Bangladesh. Around 20,000 more were massed on the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar's western state of Rakhine and waiting to enter, the U.N. said in a report. Dhaka had stepped up border controls after the latest round of violence began 10 days ago, but the U.N. said recent arrivals reported there had been no attempt to stop them from crossing. One Bangladeshi border guard told AFP the sheer numbers of people desperate to enter the country had made it impossible to stop the influx. "It is bigger than the last time," said the guard, who asked not … [Read more...] about UN says 87,000 refugees arrive in Bangladesh from Myanmar
Social News In Brief 28/3
Oil spill response training held in Quang Ninh Some 200 people from oil exploiting and transporting companies and organisations in the northern province of Quang Ninh were provided with necessary knowledge and skills to respond to oil spills during a training course held in the locality on March 28. The course was jointly organised by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Vietnam Maritime Construction Investment Consultancy Joint Stock Company. Participants were equipped with measures to control oil spills, laws and regulations related to the issue as well as technical measures to clean up oil-contaminated areas and ways to manage environmental pollution after the oil spill. They also practised collecting oil from the spill in conditions of strong flows and big waves. There has been no serious oil spill case in Quang Ninh province since the beginning of 2017. Enhancing skills to prevent and tackle oil spills is necessary for the province as it is a … [Read more...] about Social News In Brief 28/3