Kathmandu . To mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China, Nepal gifted a 70 kg Buddha statue to China on Friday. A special handover ceremony was organized in Yunnan Province’s Kunming where a 70 kg gold plated statue of Lord Buddha was handed over by the Nepal-China Executives Council to the Yunnan Buddhist Association. Addressing the handover ceremony, Anoop Bhattarai, Chairman of NCEC remarked, “To commemorate this happy occasion of 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Nepal-China Executives Council is delighted to present a 70 kg gold plated statue of Lord Buddha to Yuantong Temple in Kunming.”The statue was crafted in almost eight months by Nepali artisans.
Bhattarai further shared, “Buddhism is not only a shared spiritual heritage between Nepal and China but also a pillar of cultural diplomacy, fostering mutual respect, regional harmony, and a vision of peaceful coexistence.” On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, NCEC had also presented a 60 kg replica of the Grand Bell at Patan Palace Square to the Grand Bell Temple in Beijing. Receiving the Buddha’s statue, Master Xinming, President of the Yunnan Buddhist Association, shared that the solemn gift honors the age-old pledge of two nations ‘united by mountains and witnessed by rivers.’He added, “Its solemn form embodies the devout craftsmanship of Nepalese artisans and reflects the profound Buddhist friendship between China and Nepal.” “Yunnan is the only province in China where Han, Tibetan, and Theravada Buddhism coexist. Endowed with unique advantages of "geographical proximity, ethnic kinship, and Buddhist affinity," it has long been a hub of Buddhist culture linking South and Southeast Asia and a warm bridge of people-to-people bonds along the Belt and Road,”he further stated.
On the occasion, Roshan Khanal, Deputy Chief of Mission at Nepali Embassy in Beijing remarked that establishing the statue in one of the grandest as well as the most important Buddhist Temple in Yunnan Province has enriched the value of the statue. She further shared that it is a precious gift from the people of Nepal which will be always standing in Yunnan as the epitome of Nepal-China friendship.
“Yunnan province and Nepal have many similarities-both are the model for unity among diverse communities, touristic attractions as well as culture, food and traditions. We have an extensive collaboration in trade, investment, education, socio-cultural exchanges, and people-to-people relations with Yunnan,” she added. Representatives from Yunnan Foreign Affairs Office and monks from different Buddhist associations were present in the ceremony.
