DRAFT AGENDA*

 

International Conference for Understanding and Peace

 (Lumbini, December, 2019)

 

Detailed itinerary

 

10 December, 2019:               Arrival at Bhairhawa airport  3 PM            self (by participants)

                                                Travel to Lumbini by a/c bus  4 PM

                                                Arrive at hotel 5.30 PM (freshen up and rest)

                                                Visit to Lumbini Garden plus meditation (6.30—8.00 PM)

                                                Welcome dinner (8.15-9.00 PM)

Viewing of 3-day “Arts and Artifacts exhibition” relating to Lumbini and Buddha inaugurated by Manisha Koirala (9th Dec.)

 

11 December, 2019:               Breakfast at hotel (7.30-8.30 AM)

                                               

                                                Plenary Session Hall

                                    Can Dialogue be Effective for Peace Today?

 

Assemble at meeting hall (8.45 AM)

            Morning                      Registration at (8.45-9.00 AM)

            (11 December)            Inauguration at 9.10 AM

Welcome Address: Chairperson, Dr. Niranjan MS Basnyat, Lumbini Research Center for Understanding and Peace (7 mts.)

Statement: H.E. Ambassador (I) United States (5 mts.)**

Statement: H.E. Ambassador (II) Russian Federation (5 mts.)**

Statement: H.E. Ambassador (III) Federal Republic of Germany (5 mts.)**

Key note speech: Can Peace Dialogue Help Humanity Today?

                VC, Lumbini Buddhist University (20 mts.)

Address by: Chief Guest Hon’ble Minister of Foreign Affairs

H.E. Pradeep Gyanwali (10 mts.)

                                                Program Introduction: Mr. Hemanta Kharel, President, NCWA (5m.)

 

Tea/Coffee break        

(10.10-10.30 AM)

Mid-morning sessions            

                                         Seeing the world today:

                                   (Focus would be provided on peace and stability for progress and

                                             prosperity through dialogue)

 

(10.35—10.55 AM)       Johan Galtung, Eminent Peace Researcher, (20 mts.)**

 

(10.55--11.15 AM)        International Perspective—by a

 representative from Japan

 

(11.15—11.35 AM)     Global Perspective—by a representative from China

 

(11.35—11.55 AM)        Looking at the World from Buddha’s Eyes

                                          by Prof. Karam Tej Singh Sarao, Delhi Univ., India

 

(11.55 AM-12.40 PM)   Panel discussions on papers presented:

  Prof. Abhi Subedi**(social perspective), Prof. Govinda Nepal

  economic perspective), Prof. Mohan P Lohani

  (international relations perspective),

  Prof. Triratna Manadhar (Buddhist perspective)

  Prof. Ramesh Dhungel (Buddhist perspective)

 

  Session Chairperson’s concluding remarks by: Deep Kumar

  Upadhyaya, Former Minister, and Nepal’s Ambassador to

  India (10 mts.)

                                         

Lunch Break

(12.40—1.25 PM)      

Afternoon sessions

 

 (1.25—1.40 PM)        What efforts are made to achieve peace in conflict situations

                               by Ambassador of EU in Nepal (15 mts.)

 

(1.45—2.45 PM)         Panel discussions

                                    Nepal’s perspective- Journalist Yubaraj Ghimire (10 mts.)

                                    Sri Lanka’s perspective by ………………………………...(10 mts.)

                                    Pakistan’s perspective by………………………………….(10 mts.)

                                    Philippines’ perspective by………………………………..(10 mts.)

                                    Vietnam’s perspective by Ven. Hue Son…….…………….(10 mts.)

Concluding remarks and Chair by  

 

(2.45—3.05 PM)         Global exercise to hold peace    

                                    UNSG Representative in Nepal (15 mts.)

 

(3.05—3.45 PM)         Successes and Failures by: Secretary General SAARC, ASEAN Secretary General, SCO Secretary General, North Asia-- Republic of Korea (10 mts. each)

           

            (3.45—4.00 PM)         Tea/Coffee break

 

           

Late afternoon sessions           Local, Regional and National endeavors for Harmonious Living

           

             (4.10-4.25 PM)          Local efforts of Nepal by Manmohan Choudhary,                                                                 Mayor of Lumbini)

(4.25—4.45 PM)           Regional efforts of Nepal by Hon’ble Shankar Pokharel, Chief

                                        Minister of Pradesh

            (4.50—5.05 PM)         National endeavor by Hon’ble Minister for Labor H.E.                                                             Gokarna Bista**

            (5.05—5.30 PM)         Questions and Answers

 

            (5.30-- 5.40 PM)         Concluding remarks and chair by Prof. Sudarshan Raj                                                             Tiwari

           

            (5.45—6.10 PM)                     What can we learn from Lumbini?

                                                   (Ven. Metteya Sakyaputta, Vice Chairman, LDT)

 

            (6.15—6.35 PM)                     Concluding remarks by Hon’ble Yogesh Kumar

                                                            Bhattarai, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil                                                                   Aviation)

 

            (6.35—7.45 PM)                     Freshen up

 

            (8.00—9.00 PM)                     Dinner by Lumbini Cultural Municipality

 

12 December, 2019:                            Inner Circuit Visit (from Lumbini to Kudan, Gotihawa, Niglihawa, Tilaurakot Excavation site and Museum)

                                                            (06.30 –10.00 AM)

 

12 December, 2019:                            Achieving harmony: Intercultural and religious interface       

             (10.05-10.25 AM)                  Veda/Hinduism perspective by Mr. Ajeya Raj Sumargi, Chairman of Madhav Raj Sumargi Smriti Kosh

                                                           

            (10.25 -11.45 AM)                  Buddha’s perspective by

 

            (10.45-11.05 AM)                   Islam perspective by Mohammad Haroon Salafi,                                                                President of Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadees Nepal

 

            (11.05-11.25 AM)                   Christian perspective by

 

             (11.25-11.35 AM)                  Concluding abstract and chair by Christian Manhart**, Country Director, UNESCO

 

Lumbini Research Center for Understanding and Peace, dedicated to promoting peace and harmony through Buddha’s message, takes it that Lumbini (Nepal) offers three distinct services to humanity: Every inch of sacred garden takes them nearer to their beloved Buddha; meditation and prayers under experienced hands helps to lessen pains and sufferings; and creates a congregation of peace lovers who are in search of peace themselves.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Subject to change

**Speakers to be confirmed

 

Parallel Session I

 

(1.20—1.40 PM)         Understanding, Peace and Stability

                               Lumbini Research Center’s presentation

                                    by Secretary General, Dr. Binod P. Bista

 

(1.45—2.45 PM)         Panel discussions on Understanding and Peace—Education (Academic Expert), Employment (Labor expert), Basic health care (Expert of Health), Job creation through vocational training.

 

(2.45—3.05 PM)         Regional exercise to hold peace and stability (Regional Organization—ADB representative)

 

(3.05—3.45 PM)         Visiting Lumbini is Visiting Nepal: Let us celebrate 2020—Nepal visit year

                               Keynote speaker Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (10 minutes)

                                    Preparations and Expectations of 2020 by Mr. Suraj Vaidya Coordinator of Nepal 2020 (10 minutes)

                                    Special Programs and Events by CEO Nepal Tourism Board (15 minutes)

                                    Observations and Remarks by a Tourism Entrepreneur (5 minutes)

                                   

(3.45—4.00 PM)         Tea/Coffee break

 

 

Parallel Session II

 

(4.05—5.35 PM)         Chair/Co-Chair: IFA

 Gift of Lumbini: Experiencing Buddha’s presence in Lumbini; (30 mts.)

                           by Ven. Bikkchu Metteya Mahathera (Nepal)

:  Following Buddha’s way through meditation; (30 mts)

                                                               by Sis. Loh Pai Ling, (Malaysia)

 :  Finding peace for self, Sangha (community) and the

    World (30 mts.) by Prof. Arvinda Alok, India

 

 

-*subject to change

**to be confirmed