(VOVworld)- The 2014 UN Day of Vesak on Saturday successfully wrapped up in the northern province of Ninh Binh with the adoption of a statement highlighting three sustainable development pillars. The three-day event gathered nearly 1,500 delegates from 95 countries and territories worldwide and more than 20,000 domestic and foreign Buddhist monks, nuns and followers. Addressing the closing ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that the UN Day of Vesak in Vietnam has become a cultural festival full of national and international solidarity with a message of peace and love on the basis of Buddha’s thought. Through this event, the Vietnamese government showed its determination to achieve UN Millennium Development Goal. Phuc said: " With the success of this event, I believe that fine aspirations of the international community reflected in the Ninh Binh Statement will be realized. Over the past few days, you have discussed values of Buddhist thought in the current times. Through this event, we all feel being encouraged and supported to contribute to build a social, democratic and civilized society in each country and the world as a whole".
The Ninh Binh Statement was presented by Most Venerable Thich Thien NHon, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. The Statement cited that Buddhist representatives of 95 countries and territories are determined to contribute to achieve UN millennium development goals (MDGs) and urges world leaders to focus sustainable development on the three pillars of environmental protection, economic development and social equality. The statement also calls on political leaders to resolve disputes related to sovereignty, sovereign right, territorial integrity and jurisdiction over exclusive economic zones and continental shelves through negotiations and other peaceful means, in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. A candle burning ceremony for peace was held at Bai Dinh Pagoda in the province in the evening, with the participation of about 1,500 people.