At the closing ceremony of the UN Day of Vesak 2025 on the morning of May 8, Venerable Thich Duc Thien - Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and Vice President and Secretary General of the National Organizing Committee - delivered the full text of the Ho Chi Minh City Joint Declaration.

He emphasized that this year’s Vesak, held in Vietnam, carries a particularly profound meaning. It offered a precious opportunity for the global Buddhist community and international friends to celebrate alongside the Vietnamese people on the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the upcoming 80th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

This fourth time hosting the UN Day of Vesak reaffirmed Vietnam’s vibrant and diverse religious life and its commitment to religious freedom.

The organizing committee highlighted the strong and practical commitments of the Vietnamese Party and State to respecting and protecting the right to freedom of religion and belief for all citizens.

Within that context, the UN Day of Vesak reaffirmed the role of Buddhism in strengthening solidarity, fostering peace, promoting tolerance, and supporting sustainable development worldwide.

This year’s Vesak reflected the shared aspiration to apply Buddhist wisdom and ethical responsibility to address pressing global issues, including conflict resolution, social justice, environmental sustainability, and international cooperation - aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event also reaffirmed Vietnam’s position as a prominent center of global Buddhism, showcasing an engaged Buddhism that combines spiritual practice with cultural diplomacy to foster peace and harmony.

Following discussions grounded in compassion, wisdom, and harmony, participants unanimously adopted and published the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration - Buddhism’s response to urgent global challenges, based on the principles of non-violence, tolerance, and human dignity.

The declaration includes the following points:

1. Unity and tolerance for human dignity
2. Cultivating inner peace for world peace
3. Forgiveness and healing through mindfulness and reconciliation
4. Compassion in action: Shared responsibility for human development
5. Mindfulness in education for a compassionate and sustainable future
6. Promoting unity and collaborative efforts for global harmony

The International Council for the Day of Vesak also announced its endorsement of the China Buddhist Association’s proposal to host the 2026 celebration.

In the spirit of Vesak 2025, delegates reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to applying Buddhist wisdom, ethical responsibility, and collective action to bring about world peace, safeguard human dignity, and maintain the well-being of the planet.

The declaration calls on all nations to prioritize peace policies, environmental sustainability, and economic equity - over arms races and excessive resource exploitation.

It also urges global institutions to adopt Buddhist ethical principles in governance, diplomacy, and sustainable development. International organizations are encouraged to recognize Buddhist wisdom as a vital resource for conflict resolution and ethical leadership.

The global Buddhist community is invited to actively participate in shaping ethical leadership, economic justice, and environmental healing.

“Let the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration become a moral compass, a strategic framework, and an urgent call toward a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world,” Venerable Thich Duc Thien concluded.

Tuan Chieu - Nguyen Hue