At the invitation of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar is paying an official visit to Vietnam and co-chairing the 18th session of the Vietnam - India Joint Committee.

On the afternoon of October 15, FM Bui Thanh Son and his Indian counterpart paid a visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda in Tay Ho district, Hanoi.

Minister Bui Thanh Son and the Indian Foreign Minister came to Tran Quoc Pagoda.

Foreign Minister (FM) Bui Thanh Son welcomed the Indian FM from the entrance and briefly introduced Tran Quoc - a pagoda with a long and famous history in Vietnam, located on West Lake.

FM Bui Thanh Son also informed his counterpart that today is the first day of the lunar calendar when Vietnamese people often go to pagodas. As a result, Tran Quoc pagoda is very crowded this afternoon.

Venerable Thich Thanh Nha, Abbot of Tran Quoc Pagoda, welcomed the two FMs and introduced thoroughly the history of the pagoda. The conversation lasted about 10 minutes. Then, the abbot presented the two FMs artistically crafted Bodhi leaves.

The two Foreign Ministers talked with the Abbot, Venerable Thich Thanh Nha.

The Abbot presented the Indian Foreign Minister with artistically crafted Bodhi leaves. The FM then said he would leave this Bodhi leaf in his office.

The Indian Foreign Minister presented Tran Quoc Pagoda the Bodhi leaves taken from the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, where Buddha Shakyamuni is believed to attain enlightenment.

After that, the two FMs attended the prayer ceremony at the main hall of Tran Quoc Pagoda, which was organized as a Vietnamese Buddhist spiritual ritual.

They also visited the Bodhi tree in the middle of Tran Quoc Pagoda's yard, which is a part of the sacred Bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya and was given to President Ho Chi Minh by Indian President Rajendra Prasad in 1959 during his visit to Vietnam. The Bodhi tree was very small when it was first brought to Vietnam. After nearly 60 years, it has grown tall, casting a shadow over the entire yard.

Many high-ranking Indian leaders, when visiting Vietnam, went to Tran Quoc Pagoda to pay their respects to Buddha and admire the Bodhi tree. The Bodhi tree at Tran Quoc Pagoda is considered a symbol of the long-standing cultural and civilizational connection between India and Vietnam.

Venerable Thich Thanh Nha introduced the Bodhi tree to the two FMs.

The two FMs looked at a photo taken nearly 60 years ago when Tran Quoc Pagoda first planted the Bodhi tree.

Two FMs worshiped in the main hall of Tran Quoc Pagoda.

The two FMs and Abbot of Tran Quoc Pagoda and members of two delegations under the shade of the Bodhi tree.

The birth of Buddhism in Vietnam, spread from India nearly 2 thousand years ago, was an important event, creating a civilized connection between the two societies, a continuing philosophical and spiritual bond, strengthening the friendship between India and Vietnam.

The Indian FM thanked the welcome of FM Bui Thanh Son, the Abbot, monks, nuns, and Buddhists of Tran Quoc Pagoda. He hoped that Indian-Vietnamese Buddhism would always strengthen exchanges and cooperation for the peace and prosperity of the two countries.

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