Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan was also present at the opening ceremony of the conference.

The week-long event will discuss the role of Buddhist women in the world and ways for them to perform well in various areas.

The participants will mention the most burning issues of the current society, including environmental pollution, woman and child trafficking, and domestic violence.

The conference will also provide an opportunity for participants to exchange views on Buddhist women’s role in promoting friendship and solidarity worldwide.

In a letter sent to the conference, State President Nguyen Minh Triet spoke highly of the 2,000 year history of Vietnamese Buddhism. He stressed that the Vietnamese State always respects and ensures the people’s right of religious freedom.

Mr Triet expressed his wish that Vietnamese Buddhist women, together with their peers in the world, would make active contributions to preventing conflicts and contradictions, eliminating poverty and highlighting the Buddha’s dogmas in the social life.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Vietnam Women’s Union Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa suggested that Buddhist women continue to share and cooperate with various women’s organisations to help them improve their behaviour.