Himal Press 
LUMBINI: The Lumbini Conclave kicked off in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, with the slogan ‘world peace for prosperity’ on Thursday.
The conclave is being organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Honorary Consular Corps-Nepal.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha inaugurated the conference on Thursday. “Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Minister Shrestha stated that Lumbini is not just the Buddha’s birthplace but also the origin of Buddhist philosophy. He said that the teachings of Buddha are crucial for establishing world peace, which the world must embrace.
Stating that Nepal is facing complex geopolitical challenges, Shrestha emphasized the need to transform the conflicts seen in the world into peace. Recalling the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Lumbini four months ago, he said Guterres interpreted it as a place that reflects the teachings of Lord Buddha.
On the occasion, Summina Udas, founder and executive director of the Lumbini Museum Initiative, made a presentation on Lumbini and promoted it as the center of faith for peace seekers around the world.
Non-resident ambassadors for Nepal from countries like Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Czech Republic, Mauritius, Mongolia, Indonesia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Serbia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Ireland, Spain, Latvia, Costa Rica, Poland, Dominican Republic and Romania, among others, are participating in the conclave.
The foreign delegates toured Lumbini, the UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of Buddha, on Thursday afternoon.
The conference is expected to see discussions and presentations on investment opportunities in Nepal, tourism promotion, and the international significance of Lumbini, among other topics.
