Chinese Buddhism should be bridge to international initiatives: official

Chinese Buddhism should serve as a bridge for exchanges with countries along the Belt and Road initiative and enhance ties with international Buddhists, a senior government official said today.

Sun Chunlan, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, a CPC agency that oversees religious affairs in China, said Chinese Buddhists should seize opportunities through China’s Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives and conduct more active exchanges with Buddhists and other religious followers in those countries.

Sun made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Fourth World Buddhist Forum, which is being held in Wuxi, Jiangsu province today and Sunday.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives have been put forward by the Chinese government to promote trade links and investment in Asia and Europe.

Sun also called on a peaceful coexistence and enhanced exchanges between different Buddhist sects in China during her keynote speech.

Venerable Master Xuecheng, president of the Buddhist Association of China, also called for an enhanced exchange between different sects of Buddhism in China.

"There should also be enhanced exchanges between Buddhism and other religions in areas of environmental protection, charity and culture," he said.

Buddhism should also research the interaction between Buddhism and modern civilization, and respond in time to the social problems in the modern world, he said.

Buddhists should also absorb the latest achievements of science and technology, and use them to expand its teachings, he said.

The Fourth World Buddhist Forum, with the theme of "common aspiration, common action, embracing exchanges and mutual learning", attracted more than 1,800 Buddhist masters, practitioners and scholars from 52 countries.

Among the representatives were Abbot Hsing Yun, one of Taiwan's most influential monks, and the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, a senior living Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism.