Lumbini International Meditation Day Event Held in the Sacred Garden of Lumbeni On April 5, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Nepal Olympic Committee, Nepal Tourism Commission, Lumbini Development Committee, Lumbini Buddhist University, Nepal Overseas Chinese Association and China Monastery jointly organized Lumbini International Meditation Day in Lumbini Holy Garden. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal Shrestha, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, Chairman of the Nigerian Olympic Committee Givan Shrestha and Secretary of the Lumbini Development Committee Shakya attended the meeting.

Ambassador Chen Song said in his speech that Nepal is the birthplace of Sakyamuni and the place where Buddhism flourished. The eastward spread of Buddhism opened a brilliant chapter in the cultural exchanges between China and Nepal. Whether it was Fa Xian, an eminent monk of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, or Ven. Xuan Zang of the Tang Dynasty who traveled thousands of miles to study in Nepal, or Princess Chi Zun's visit to Tibet, or Brother Ani's construction of the White Pagoda Temple in Beijing, these have become stories of friendly exchanges between the two countries from generation to generation. Buddhism has brought closer the feelings of the people of China and Nepal, and has continued to integrate and develop through exchanges and mutual learning. Ambassador Chen Song said that the joint activity of Zen Meditation Day held by China and Nepal is precisely in the hope of integrating the ancient Buddhist wisdom of "compassion, peace and harmony of the Middle Way" into modern life, enhancing mutual understanding among people of all countries and seeking the common welfare of mankind.

The Chinese nation has always advocated the concepts of "peace is most precious" and "harmony without difference," and has always promoted the common values of mankind such as peace, development, fairness and justice. The Nepalese people also share the virtues of benevolence, charity and equality. We commend Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Alvaro Schresta for calling on the United Nations to establish an International Day of Meditation. We support Nepal to designate Lumbini as the meditation capital of Nepal, use meditation as a medium, give play to the role of "golden link" of Buddhist exchanges, further promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and inject strong impetus into building a closer China-Nepal community of shared future. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shrestha said in his speech that he is very pleased to attend the International Meditation Day in Lumbini. Not long ago, I paid an official visit to China and reached positive consensus with China on advancing practical cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The visit has not only enhanced Nigeria-China relations, but also laid a solid foundation for the realization of a broader vision of regional cooperation and integration. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shrestha said that Lumbini, as the birthplace of Sakyamuni, is one of the most important religious shrines in the world. As an important way of spiritual practice, meditation advocated by Buddhism has long gone beyond the boundaries of religion and has become a universal philosophy of life.

China has undertaken the construction of the Lumbini Buddha International Airport and held activities such as the Lumbini International Peace Festival, which has greatly promoted the development of Nepal's tourism. Nepal is willing to work with China to strengthen practical cooperation in culture, tourism and infrastructure, so as to make Buddhist exchanges and cooperation a new booster for the development of Nepali-China relations. As one of the activities of the Lumbini International Peace Festival, Lumbini International Meditation Day has attracted more than 800 monks, nuns and meditation enthusiasts from all over the world, and together they have started a journey of mind and body meditation