Kathmandu, April 21
The KP Oli government has invited India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping for an international Buddhist conference that Nepal is organising on May 19-21. The government has sent the invite to the two leaders as well as United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and UNESCO Secretary-General on the occasion of Gautam Buddha’s 2560th birth anniversary. While the conference will take place in Kathmandu, a special event will take place in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, on May 21.
China and India are yet to send their confirmations. The participation of Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, is almost confirmed, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokhrel told Onlinekhabar.
Spokesperson for the foreign ministry, Ghanashyam Upadhyaya, said the government has invited culture ministers from 11 countries, including Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, China, Bhutan, Japan, Republic of Korea and Israel, and experts from 22 countries for the conclave. Of the invitees, Sri Lanka’s Culture Minister has sent confirmation. The ministry said the conference is part of an effort to turn Nepal into a spiritual centre on Buddhism and contribute to preservation of the religion. Upadhyaya said the government has set up a secretariat to turn this idea into reality.
