Nepal received unprecedented religious and tourism mileage as the birthplace of the Buddha at Fifth Sichuan International Tourism Expo 2018 held in Leshan, China from Sept. 6 to 9. Nepal, alone was welcomed as the country of honor between Expo participating fifty-six countries. 

Nepali official delegation led by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) Hon’ble Rabindra Prasad Adhikari promoted Nepali heritages in China in the eve of Nepal Visit Year 2020. The Tourism Minister called Nepal one of the best tourism and pilgrimage destinations in the world and appealed to visit during his address at the opening ceremony of the Expo. The minister also visited the Nepal Pavilion from where LDT and NBT showcased various tourism products and destinations of Nepal including birthplace of the Buddha. The Minister also held several high-level meetings with the Governor of Sichuan, the Mayor of Leshan, Heads of the famous Dado Zen Temple and Leshan Giant Buddha Temple to discuss mutual cooperation and promotion of tourism in China.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Friendly and cooperative relationship between Lumbini Sacred Garden, Nepal and Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, China” was signed on Sep. 7. The MoU was signed by Vice Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust Ven. Metteyya (Awadhesh Kumar Tripathi) from behalf of Nepal and Mayor of Leshan Mr. Zhang Tong from behalf of China at the presence of Minister Adhikari and Chinese dignitaries.  Both Lumbini of Nepal and Giant Buddha Area of China are world cultural heritages with outstanding universal value deserving protection for the benefit of humanity.  Friendly Relationship between these sacred sites has opened a broad spectrum for cooperation in Buddhist cultural exchanges and heritage conservation. Both parties will present representative gifts as symbol of the friendly communications between Nepal and China in appropriate times. 

Another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Leshan City of China with three Municipalities of Nepal was also signed the same day for promotion of Buddhist tourism. The Mayor Mr. Zhang Tong from behalf of Leshan City of China and the Mayor of Lumbini Cultural Municipality Mr. Man Mohan Chaudhary, the Mayor of Ramagrama Municipality Mr. Narendra Kumar Gupta and the Mayor of Tansen Municipality Mr. Ashok Kumar Shahi from Nepal signed the MoU separately at the presence of Minister Adhikari and Chinese high-level dignitaries. 

Another highlight of the visit was ceremony of presenting Holy Soil from Lumbini Sacred Garden to the Leshan Giant Buddha Museum. The holy soil from the Buddha’s birth spot was jointly handed over by Minister Adhikari and LDT Vice Chair Ven. Metteyya to the Chief of Museum Xu Tian Yu amid a formal program on September 8. The holy soil was consecrated in the museum for public veneration on the same day. The consecration of the holy soil in Leshan Museum, where more than four million people visit annually, will highlight Lumbini to a greater market. Minister Adhikari expressed deep satisfaction and happiness to present the holy soil as a token of love of Nepal and Nepalese people while addressing the ceremony. Lumbini Developmen Trust also presented an elegant Buddha image to the Mayor of Leshan Municipality.       

On the occasion, Vice Chairman of People’s Congress of Leshan City Mr. Zhang and Chairman of Giant Buddha Area Management Committee Xu Tian Yu thanked Government of Nepal, Lumbini Development Trust and Nepalese people for presenting the Holy Soil from the birthplace of the lord Buddha, elegant Buddha image and different agreements.