First World Buddhist Forum opens in Hangzhou
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-13 10:31 The First World Buddhist
Forum opened Thursday morning in the scenic city of Hangzhou in east China's
Zhejiang Province.
Liu Yandong, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said at the opening ceremony
that governments and peoples should exert concerted efforts to make religions
play an active role in building a harmonious world.
Tung Chee Hwa, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, read a
congratulatory letter from United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the
forum.
More than 1,000 Buddhist monks, experts and politicians from 34 countries and
regions have come to attend the event lasting from April 13 to 16. The monks
will pray for world peace on April 15 in nearby Zhoushan City.
|