Lumbini, July 29, 2025 — Lumbini Buddhist University successfully concluded a two-day International Symposium on “Diplomacy and Buddha’s Teachings: A Path to Global Peace and Sustainable Development,” held on July 27 and 28 at its central campus in the sacred birthplace of the Buddha. The symposium brought together a distinguished gathering of diplomats, scholars, monks, peace practitioners, and policymakers from Nepal, India, and across the region to explore how the timeless teachings of the Buddha can shape contemporary global diplomacy, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.
The event was jointly organized by Lumbini Buddhist University, the Embassy of India in Nepal, the BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation, and the South Asia Foundation-Nepal, in collaboration with Nalanda University, India, and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). The symposium served as a meaningful platform for high-level discourse on ethical diplomacy, non-violent communication, intergovernmental trust-building, and Buddhist approaches to sustainable living.
The Inaugural Session featured remarks from several prominent figures including Chief Guest Mr. Chet Narayan Acharya, Honourable Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, and Prof. Dr. Subarna Lal Bajracharya, Vice Chancellor of Lumbini Buddhist University, who welcomed participants and outlined the vision behind the event. Keynote speaker Prof. Abhaya Kumar Singh, Dean of the School of Buddhist Studies and former Vice Chancellor of Nalanda University, delivered an address emphasizing the global relevance of Buddhist principles in international diplomacy.
Notable speakers included Prof. Dr. Devraj Adhikari, Chairman of the University Grants Commission of Nepal, Prof. Kavita Shah, Vice Chancellor of Siddharth University, Prof. Dr. Dhruba Kumar Gautam, Vice Chancellor of Mid-West University, Prof. Dr. Achyut Prasad Wagle, Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University, and Mr. Deep Kumar Upadhyay, former Minister of Nepal. Their remarks focused on the intersection of education, diplomacy, and Buddhist philosophy as tools for peaceful global cooperation.
Thematic sessions across the two days covered topics such as global diplomacy through Buddhist ethics, compassion in conflict resolution, sustainable development guided by Buddhist values, and peacebuilding through dialogue and cooperation. Paper presentations by national and international scholars added academic depth, exploring subjects ranging from Abhidhammic perspectives on peace to Emperor Ashoka’s model of Dharma-based diplomacy.
A key highlight of the event was the announcement of a new Postgraduate Diploma in Peacebuilding and Sustainable Development to be launched by Lumbini Buddhist University in collaboration with South Asia Centre for Peace Research and Sustainable Development (SACPRSD) and South Asia Foundation-Nepal (SAF-N), further strengthening the institution’s commitment to global peace education.
The symposium concluded with a declaration reflecting the shared values of all participants and a collective commitment to continue promoting peace and diplomacy through the teachings of the Buddha. The university expressed gratitude to all collaborators and reaffirmed its role as a center for dialogue and academic excellence rooted in Buddhist wisdom.