The 21st Conference of the United Nations Day of Vesak commenced in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on May 26, marked by a congratulatory message from China's top political adviser.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, emphasized in his message that China will continue to support the Chinese Buddhist community in strengthening friendly exchanges with Buddhist communities in other countries and regions, grounded in principles of independence, equality, friendship, and mutual respect.
Vesak Day is a significant festival for Buddhists worldwide, commemorating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing. The International Council for the Day of Vesak, in line with the UN resolution, promotes Buddhist values of compassion and peace, fostering friendly exchanges among Buddhists worldwide.
Wang said that the Chinese government is committed to upholding the international system, with the UN at its core, and the basic norms of international relations, based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China is committed to advancing the development of a more just and equitable global governance system while collaborating with countries worldwide to build a community with a shared future for humanity.
China will actively participate in activities organized by international Buddhist organizations, engage broadly in international religious dialogue and cultural exchanges, and contribute to enhancing friendship between Chinese and foreign peoples while building a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusivity, cleanliness, and beauty, he noted.
Wang also expressed hope that the attending guests and the Buddhist community will carry forward the fine traditions of Buddhism, engage in deep exchanges around the theme, and contribute wisdom and strength to maintaining world peace, enhancing human well-being, and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
The 21st Conference of the United Nations Day of Vesak is hosted by the ICDV and organized by the Buddhist Association of China and the Jiangsu Buddhist Association. The event was attended by the president of the ICDV and approximately 1,000 representatives of the Buddhist community, experts, and scholars from 67 countries and regions.
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