World Buddhist Forum focuses on world peace

Priyanka KURUGALA

All Ceylon Buddhist Congress President Jagath Sumathipala discussed the steps taken by the UN for world peace in keeping with Buddhism and talked of the ancient relationship between China and Sri Lanka at the third World Buddhist Forum held in Hong Kong from April 24 to 27, delivering a keynote address.

The forum was held under the theme Common expectations and activities for united world.

It was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, China Buddhist Association and Chinese Religious Cultural Communication Association and held under the patronage of Chinese Buddhist Affairs Minister Wang Zuoan.

Around 1,000 members from 50 countries participated in this session according to Sumathipala. This forum was established in 2004 by eight senior Buddhist leaders of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to exchange views and information among leaders of the Buddhist world. The first and second sessions of the World Buddhist Forum were held in China in 2004 and 2006. The aim of the World Buddhist Forum is to strengthen communication between the world's Buddhists.