From May 21 to 22, 2013 (B.E. 2556), the 10^th United Nations Day of Vesak celebration was held at Mahachulalongkorn- rajavidyalaya University in Ayutthaya Province, the ESCAP Hall at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, and Buddhamonthon in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The celebration was hosted by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, overseen by the International Council for the Day of Vesak, with support from the Thai Government and blessings from the Supreme Sangha Council. Participants from 87 countries and regions attended the celebration.

The event commemorated His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, on the auspicious occasion of his 100^th birth anniversary.

The celebration focused on the theme with Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, delivering the keynote address. Panel discussions addressed two sub-themes: The celebration had the privilege of welcoming numerous esteemed Buddhist dignitaries and leaders, including:

• His Holiness Samdech Preah Agga Maha Sangharajadhipati Tep Vong, the Grand Supreme Patriarch of Mahanikaya in the Kingdom of Cambodia
• His Holiness Samdech Preah Abhisiri Sugandha Mahasangharaja Dhipati Kitti Uddesa Pandita Bour Kry, the Great Supreme Patriarch of Dhammayuttikanikaya in the Kingdom of Cambodia
• Most Ven. Hubalongzhuangmeng, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China; President of the Buddhist Association of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China
• H.E. Mr. Dan Ba, Chief of the Policies and Legislation Department, State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA)
• Most Ven. Yan Jue, Vice Secretary-General of the Buddhist Association of China; Abbot of Beijing Guangji Monastery, China
• H.E. Dr. Sai Mauk Kham, Vice President, The Republic of the Union of Myanmar
• Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddaraakkita Mahanayaka Thero of Asgiriya, Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter in Sri Lanka
• Most Ven. Niyangoda Vijitasiri Anunayaka Thero of Malwatta, Deputy Mahanayaka of Malwatta Chapter, Sri Lanka
• Most Ven. Dauldena Ghanissara Mahanayake Thero of Amarapura, Mahanayake of the Amarapura Chapter Aggamahapanditha, Sri Lanka
• Most Ven. Napana Pemasiri Mahanayaka Thero of Ramanna, Mahanayaka of Ramanna Chapter, Sri Lanka
• H.E. Prof. Jagath Balasuriya, Minister of National Heritage, Sri Lanka
• Most Ven. Thich Tri Quang, President of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Council, Vietnam

During the celebration, distinguished Buddhist leaders participated in the Round-Table Meeting, organized by the National Office of Buddhism and Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, to continue discussions on developing Buddhamonthon as the centre of world Buddhism.

At the conclusion of the celebration, participants unanimously adopted resolutions in the Bangkok Declaration as follows: 

• To commend His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, on the Auspicious Occasion of His 100th Birth Anniversary, for the work He has accomplished to uplift humanity, particularly in the areas of education, spirituality, and healthcare;
• To work tirelessly for universal education in the 21st century, emphasizing the integration of wisdom and compassion in caring for the environment, cultivating synergy between school subjects and disciplines, and incorporating ethics and a sense of community to the existing approach for acquiring skills for economic and social development within the curricula and syllabi at all levels of education, in order to realize the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal of “achieving universal primary education” and beyond;
• To encourage Buddhist leaders to strengthen their ongoing noble mission to promote education, as well as social and humanitarian development for sustainable world peace;
• To reinforce the Buddhist path of non-violence, by facing the many challenges to peaceful co-existence, with a conviction that is stronger than ever before, reaffirming our determination to maintain cultural and religious harmony and tolerance through upholding human dignity;
• To take the opportunity of the Day of Vesak gathering to encourage Buddhists to be more proactive in promoting peace, which is so central to the teachings of the Buddha, and in particular, spreading the Buddha’s wisdom on the inter-connectedness of all humans as a global family and the shared consequences of their actions;
• To urge all governmental and non-governmental organizations to strive toward sustainable economic and social development, stressing the need to balance such development with the preservation of the environment;
• To strengthen efforts to promote the message of the inter-being of humankind, through encouraging individuals and organizations to develop the perspective of being global citizens as they address important issues in their work together;
• To promote the ethical use of mindfulness in a universally applicable manner, in such fieldsas healthcare, education, management, and community development, and;
• To do the utmost to contribute towards achieving the goal of the ASEAN Community in 2015, calling upon the strength of the unity within the diversity of the Buddhist community that has been fostered by the International Council for the Day of Vesak.