Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune delivers the opening address at the Nanhai Buddhist Roundtable Conference in Vientiane on Wednesday.

Buddhist forum promotes peace, cultural and religious ties

Buddhist leaders from 29 countries and regions gathered in Vientiane on Wednesday to strengthen religious education, promote cultural exchanges, and expand charitable cooperation while advancing the cause of peace.
The 11th Nanhai Buddhism Roundtable officially opened on October 28 under the theme “Shared Origin, Shared Aspiration, Towards Comprehensive Prosperity and Civilization”.
The international gathering, which runs from October 25-30, brings together senior monks, Buddhist leaders, scholars and representatives of religious organisations to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and turn Buddhist teachings into practical benefits for society.
A key focus of the conference is to build on commitments made at the 10th Roundtable, particularly through Buddhist education, closer links between young monks, charitable activities, and the preservation of religious and cultural heritage.
The gathering also aims to strengthen understanding of different Buddhist traditions and encourage religious communities to work together to foster compassion, solidarity and sustainable development.
President Thongloun Sisoulith welcomed the conference in a congratulatory video message, highlighting the importance of Buddhist teachings in strengthening friendship and peaceful relations among countries.
“I firmly believe that this conference will be an important step in strengthening friendship, solidarity and good cooperation among the participating countries,” he said.
Member of the Politburo of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of the Lao Front for National Development, Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, delivered the opening address, stressing the importance of Buddhism in promoting peace, understanding and cooperation.
“Buddhism has a history of more than 2,500 years, and its teachings are rooted in the fundamental spirit of ‘compassion and helping all sentient beings be free from suffering’,” he said.
Dr Kikeo said Buddhist teachings encouraged people to live peacefully, care for one another, and respect cultural differences.
He highlighted the role of the conference in addressing challenges facing the world, including social divisions, climate change, natural disasters, and other problems affecting people’s lives.
The gathering will also help strengthen cooperation among Buddhist communities and support practical activities that benefit society, particularly in education and humanitarian work.
Dr Kikeo also highlighted the importance of promoting environmental protection, medical assistance and poverty reduction through cooperation between Buddhist communities and other organisations.
“Peace and tranquillity are the shared aspiration of all humankind and a long-standing goal of Buddhists,” he said.
He called for greater solidarity among Buddhist communities and encouraged participants to use compassion and Buddhist wisdom to safeguard peace and peaceful coexistence.
The conference also seeks to strengthen harmony among the three main Buddhist traditions of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana, while respecting their different practices and cultural backgrounds.
Dr Kikeo remarked on the significance of the conference taking place during the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and China, and Laos-China Friendship Year.
He said the gathering formed part of wider efforts to strengthen cultural exchanges, religious cooperation and people-to-people relations between the two countries, alongside cooperation under China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative.
The conference is jointly hosted by the Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation of Laos, the Lao Front for National Development and other Lao organisations, together with the Shenzhen Buddhist Association and Hongfa Temple in China.
President of the Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation of Laos, Maha Veth Masenai, welcomed the gathering as an important milestone in religious and cultural cooperation between Buddhist organisations in Laos and China.
He highlighted the value of sharing knowledge and experiences, particularly in Buddhist education, religious studies, and cooperation among monks.
President of the Shenzhen Buddhist Association and the Abbot of Hongfa temple, the Most Venerable Yin Shun, attended the opening ceremony alongside senior Buddhist representatives from participating countries and regions.
Beyond discussions, the conference highlights the role of Buddhism in bringing communities together and encouraging people to show compassion and mutual respect in their daily lives, and support peaceful coexistence.
Established in 2016, the Nanhai Buddhism Roundtable has previously taken place in cities including Shenzhen, Phnom Penh, Colombo, Bangkok and Kathmandu.

By Phonepaseuth Volakhoun
 (Latest Update October 29, 2026)