KATHMANDU, Dec 11: High-level Chinese religious leaders and political figures have arrived in Kathmandu to participate in the ‘Nanhai Buddhism Round Table’ to be held in Nepal.
A 10-member delegation headed by Shi Yinshun, vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China, arrived in Nepal on Tuesday via Thai Airways flight TG319. The visiting delegation includes Xue Jianwen, Sun Jinghao, Liu Guoxin, Zhang Yunyu, Lu Zhiyong, Cheng Dunghao, Chen Changjun, Shi Xuanyu and Lin Feng. They were welcomed by Chen Song, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal.
Preparations are underway at Yak and Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu for the “Nanhai Buddhism Round Table.” With Buddhist monks prepared by the Chinese government expected to participate in the 'Nanhai Buddhism Round Table', preparations have begun at the event venue with additional security.
As the Panchen Lama, also known as Gyaltsen Norbu, who was appointed by the Chinese government but has not been recognized by the 14th Dalai Lama, currently in exile in India, as his successor, is scheduled to visit Nepal; preparations have been carried out for his security arrangements.
Chinese religious leader Panchen Lama to visit Nepal
Government officials and monks from around 20 countries will participate in the Nanhai Buddhism Round Table, which will be held from this Thursday (December 12) to Sunday (December 15). It is said that the Chinese religious leader Panchen Lama will arrive in Nepal on December 13, according to his visit schedule so far.
The Nepal government has kept the arrival of the Chinese religious leader Panchen Lama a secret. “He is coming for religious harmony," said an official from the Lumbini Development Trust. The officials of the Trust also leaked the information that he is set to arrive in Nepal. It is said that the Chinese armed police will also be with him.
The Panchen Lama was appointed as a religious leader by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The agreement for his visit to Nepal was made before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s trip to China.
"The Ministry of Tourism and the Lumbini Development Trust were already informed about this. Otherwise, he would have arrived on a Chinese chartered flight," said an official from the Trust.
The visit of Chinese religious leader Panchen Lama to Kathmandu has created waves among Buddhists from Nepal, India, and the United States. The issue has garnered international attention.
“Panchen Lama, also known as Gyaltsen Norbu, is being brought out of China and established,” said a source. The religious representative chosen by Beijing, Norbu, is expected to deliver a message of religious harmony at the event.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation gave permission for this event a month ago. Due to the permission given by Minister Badri Pandey, the Lumbini Development Trust has to manage the visit to Lumbini.
The Panchen Lama is scheduled to reach Lumbini directly by flight from Beijing, China. From Lumbini, he is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu. Security arrangements in Lumbini have been tightened in preparation for his visit.
Recently, there is increasing interest in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. Work is being carried out according to the strategy of bringing those religious leaders to Nepal and establishing them at the international level.
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