Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU) successfully hosted the China–South Asia Peace and Development Forum on 11 April 2026, drawing together a distinguished assembly of academics, policy researchers, cultural scholars, and representatives of civil society from China and Nepal. Held at the birthplace of the Lord Buddha, the forum brought intellectual depth to one of the most important bilateral and regional conversations of our time — the relationship between China and South Asia, and the shared aspirations for peace, prosperity, and cultural understanding.
The forum was organized around four thematic academic sessions, each chaired by an invited scholar, and concluded with a joint deliberative session producing recommendations for deeper regional cooperation. Over the course of the day, fourteen scholars and practitioners delivered presentations covering subjects ranging from geopolitics and trade to railway connectivity, media diplomacy, Buddhist heritage, and cultural soft power.
The academic proceedings opened with a session examining the evolving dynamics between China and India and their implications for the broader South Asian region.
Researcher Jin Zhongwei, Founder of the Observer Network and affiliated with the China Institute at Fudan University, delivered a thought-provoking analysis on the information asymmetries that characterise China–South Asia relations. He argued that the prevailing reliance on Western media as an intermediary in Sino-South Asian communications distorts mutual understanding, and called for the construction of a directly visible, mutually accountable media ecosystem between the two civilisations. His insights drew significant engagement from the audience and set an intellectually vigorous tone for the day.
Prof. Zhang Jiadong, Director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, offered a comprehensive structural analysis of South Asia’s positioning within a rapidly transforming global order. He identified five principal forces shaping the region: China’s expanding regional presence, the structural imbalance in United States South Asia policy, India-centric asymmetries in regional economic integration, the governance impacts of new political phenomena, and the transformative influence of artificial intelligence on development strategies. He proposed that South Asian nations, by adopting pragmatic multi-alignment strategies and reform-oriented multilateralism, are well-positioned to emerge as independent geopolitical voices within a multipolar international order.
Secretary-General Wang Shaodong of the Guangdong Institute for Indo-Pacific Peace and Development presented a detailed assessment of Sino-Indian economic and trade relations. He reviewed the current state of bilateral trade, identified structural bottlenecks hindering deeper economic integration, and outlined strategic recommendations for expanding commercial cooperation between the two largest Asian economies, with particular attention to the role of third-country engagement through multilateral platforms.
The academic proceedings opened with a session examining the evolving dynamics between China and India and their implications for the broader South Asian region.
The second academic session turned the lens toward the domestic development challenges and integration imperatives facing South Asian economies.
Dr. Shree Prasad Bhattarai examined the structural dimensions of economic development and regional integration in South Asia, highlighting the gap between the region’s economic potential and its actual integration outcomes. He called for renewed commitment to regional institutional frameworks and argued that trade facilitation, infrastructure investment, and harmonised regulatory environments are prerequisites for unlocking South Asia’s collective growth.
Prof. Li Wei, Dean of the Institute of Area Studies at Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, presented a carefully researched paper on the localisation of international Chinese language education in Nepal. He traced the origins of what he described as Nepal’s ‘Chinese fever’ — rooted in the warmth of Nepal–China bilateral relations, Belt and Road economic aspirations, and the desire of Nepali youth for professional mobility. Prof. Li also outlined challenges including geopolitical sensitivities and over-dependence on external resources, while advocating for a sustainable shift toward Nepal-led models of Chinese education through institutions such as the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University and Lumbini Buddhist University.
Prof. Deng Haixia of East China University of Technology presented a compelling comparative analysis drawing on the experience of the China–Laos Railway — inaugurated in 2021 as a landmark connectivity project linking Kunming to Vientiane — and its lessons for the proposed China–Nepal Railway from Lhasa to Kathmandu. She argued that Nepal’s transformation from a landlocked to a ‘land-linked’ country depends on bold infrastructure decisions and outlined a practical framework for bilateral railway cooperation informed by the Laos model.
The third session addressed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from multiple perspectives, examining both its transformative potential and the policy challenges it presents for Nepal and the region.
Dr. Sagar Neupane provided a nuanced assessment of Nepal’s engagement with the BRI, analysing the opportunities in infrastructure, energy, and tourism connectivity alongside concerns around debt sustainability, implementation capacity, and the need for transparent project governance. He emphasised that Nepal’s BRI participation must be guided by national interest and long-term development strategy.
Dr. Kong Lingyuan made a distinctive and deeply appreciated contribution to the forum with his proposal on the protection of the cultural heritage of stone carvings in the upper reaches of the Indus River. Presenting a case that bridged archaeology, cultural diplomacy, and international heritage conservation, Dr. Kong argued that these ancient carvings — which bear testimony to centuries of cross-civilisational contact along the historic Silk Road — represent a shared inheritance of humanity that demands collaborative preservation efforts. His insights resonated strongly with the forum’s overarching theme of peace and cultural exchange.
Bikram Pandey Kaaji, Special Representative of the Nepal China Chamber of Commerce and Honorary Consul of Greece to Nepal, brought a practitioner’s perspective to BRI discourse. Drawing on his extensive experience in Nepal–China trade facilitation, he underlined the importance of business-to-business relationships, border trade infrastructure, and the alignment of BRI projects with Nepal’s domestic economic priorities as essential conditions for the initiative to deliver tangible benefits for Nepali citizens.
The final academic session was perhaps the most resonant, given the forum’s location in Lumbini — the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. Scholars reflected on Buddhism’s enduring role as a civilisational bridge between China and South Asia.
Prof. Guo Taihui of Yunnan University opened the session with an evocative exploration of the Himalayan cultural corridor through which Buddhism travelled from its South Asian origins into China over two millennia ago. He argued that in an era preoccupied with geopolitical competition between China and India, the world risks overlooking a profound cultural bond sustained by shared Buddhist heritage. Choosing Lumbini as the venue for this forum, he noted, carries both historical significance and deep practical meaning for any effort to build lasting peace.
Prof. Zhang Xingnian, Vice Dean of the School of Government and Management at Qinghai Minzu University, offered an innovative analysis of cultural soft power through the medium of cinema. He examined how Nepali and Chinese films construct national images, convey values, and generate ‘emotional subsidy’ — his term for the cross-cultural emotional resonance that reduces what he called the ‘cultural discount’ experienced when content crosses linguistic and national boundaries. He highlighted the 2025 Nepal ‘China Film Day’ event as a model for film-based cultural diplomacy.
Daya Ram Gautam (Ācārya Dayānidhi) explored the philosophical dimensions of Buddhist thought as a foundation for contemporary diplomacy and conflict resolution. He presented traditional Dharmic principles of compassion, non-harm, and interdependence as not merely spiritual ideals but practical frameworks for international relations, urging policymakers to engage more seriously with Buddhist ethical heritage in the construction of regional peace architecture.
Yang Chuan, a doctoral candidate at Shanghai University, concluded the academic sessions with a scholarly analysis of B.R. Ambedkar’s Buddhist thought and its positive dimensions from the perspective of understanding Indian society. He argued that Ambedkar’s embrace of Buddhism was not merely a political act of social emancipation but a rich intellectual engagement with Buddhist philosophy, offering a unique lens through which China and other Asian countries can deepen their understanding of India’s social transformation.
Prof. Zhang Xingnian, Vice Dean of the School of Government and Management at Qinghai Minzu University, offered an innovative analysis of cultural soft power through the medium of cinema. He examined how Nepali and Chinese films construct national images, convey values, and generate ‘emotional subsidy’ — his term for the cross-cultural emotional resonance that reduces what he called the ‘cultural discount’ experienced when content crosses linguistic and national boundaries. He highlighted the 2025 Nepal ‘China Film Day’ event as a model for film-based cultural diplomacy.
In his closing address, the Vice-Chancellor of Lumbini Buddhist University expressed deep gratitude to all participants and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to serving as a permanent platform for China–South Asia academic and cultural engagement. He noted that the forum had demonstrated the power of scholarly exchange to build bridges of understanding that political and diplomatic channels alone cannot construct.
The China–South Asia Peace and Development Forum at Lumbini Buddhist University marks a significant milestone in the University’s growing profile as a centre for international academic engagement. With Lumbini’s singular heritage as the birthplace of the Buddha and its geographic position at the crossroads of South and East Asia, LBU is uniquely placed to nurture the dialogue that the region so urgently needs.