Phnom penh: The third Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam Buddhist Summit was held in Phnom Penh from October 27 to 29, focusing on promoting Buddhist harmony for peace and sustainable development. Hosted by Cambodia’s Ministry of Cult and Religion, the summit welcomed over 200 delegates, including officials for religious affairs, Buddhist dignitaries from the three countries, ambassadors, and members of the diplomatic corps in Phnom Penh. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Nguyen Hai Trung, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.

According to Lao News Agency, Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion Chay Borin emphasized that the summit not only highlighted the development of Buddhist practices in the three countries but also addressed the shared aspiration of Buddhists to promote peace and social harmony. He expressed hope that the event would strengthen the solidarity, friendship, and cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, spreading Buddhist values across the region and the world.

Samdech Men Sam An, Supreme Advisor to the Cambodian King, underscored the enduring ties among the three Mekong nations, forged through shared struggles for independence, freedom, and reunification. She noted that since Cambodia’s liberation from the Pol Pot regime, relations among the three countries have grown stronger, fostering cooperation in various fields, particularly religion. She emphasized that Buddhist values such as compassion, tolerance, selflessness, and altruism have deeply influenced everyday life in all three nations, nurturing peaceful coexistence and social stability.

Men Sam An also highlighted the increasingly important role of religion in a rapidly changing and uncertain world. She stressed that it is essential for upholding shared principles and contributing to peace and sustainable global progress.

Deputy Minister Trung commended the summit’s theme, noting its relevance amid ongoing armed conflicts and the global aspiration for peace. He emphasized that true harmony-between people and nature-remains a shared ideal, while unsustainable development continues to burden future generations. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, highlighting the importance of religious cooperation-including Buddhist exchanges-as a vital channel of people-to-people diplomacy.

Tran Thi Minh Nga, deputy head of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs, provided insight into Vietnam’s religious landscape, noting that over 95% of the Vietnamese population follow a belief or religion, with nearly 30,000 places of worship. Buddhism is the largest religion, accounting for 55% of all religious followers and 64% of worship sites.

At the summit, a joint declaration was signed, reaffirming the commitment to preserving and promoting Buddhist heritage, fostering regional Buddhist collaboration, promoting peace and harmony, supporting sustainable development, empowering the youth, and strengthening global solidarity and cooperation. The summit concluded with an agreement that the fourth event will be hosted by the Lao Buddhist Fellowship Organisation in 2027.