3rd Int’l Budhhist conference Concludes

Kathmandu, May 22: The third International Budhhist Conference concluded on Saturday with the 10-point Lumbini Declaration, endorsing a plan to promote Lumbini as the centre of Buddhist faith, set up an interfaith dialogue centre and create an international forum to take forward the action plan through bilateral and multilateral support.

The declaration made during a special ceremony in Lumbini, at its core, seeks to establish Lumbini as the birthplace of Lord Buddha and fountainhead of Buddhism.

The conference that began in Kathmandu on Thursday with the participation of delegates from 28 countries had decided to issue the declaration in Lumbini on Saturday to coincide with the 2560th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Prez. Bidhya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the ceremony.

In the conference, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, top political leaders of various major parties, delegates and Buddhist monks among national and international were present.