China offers to develop Buddhist spots in Bihar

Nalanda, Feb 12: Showing special interest in the development of Buddhist spots in Bihar, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaxing today offered monetary support in promoting the land of Buddha.

Addressing the inaugural function of Xuan Zang Memorial Hall, constructed to mark the historic visit of the Chinese scholar of Buddhist theology in the seventh century Xuan Zang, Mr Zhaxing said China had already prepared a project for the development of Buddhist spots in Bihar and would invest here accordingly.

He said if the Bihar government provides China with land for the project, the country would execute its schemes on the holy land of Buddha.

Expressing pleasure at the construction of Xuan Zang memorial hall, Mr Zhaxing said it would further strengthen Sino-Indian relation. In a reminiscent mood the foreign minister said China had handed over the urn of Xuan Zang, the symbol of the cordial Sino-Indian relations, to the Bihar government fifty years ago and now it was great pride for China that the urn was placed in the memorial hall.

Enthused with the Chinese offer for investment in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured to provide land for the projects and maintained that the government would extend logistic support to the Chinese government.

Mr Kumar also promised to provide full security to the Buddhist tourists, monks and foreigners visiting Bihar and said the state government was developing the Buddhist spots to propagate Buddha's message all over the world. He said the government had sent a project to the Centre for development of Buddhist places and the Centre had assured it to sanction the projects.

Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni lauding the tourism efforts of the state government assured Bihar to sanction the projects in the current financial year. She said all such tourist spots would be connected with the Buddhist circuit.

While inaugurating the memorial hall Bihar governor RS Gavai said the country has cordial relations with other Buddhist nations and Bihar is further facilitating this mission. The peace mission between India and other Buddhist nations was worth adopting for the other countries too.

Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) President Karan Singh stressed the need for extending cordial relations with other Buddhist nations as it had been done with China. He appealed to the other countries to do the same instead of investing in an arms race.

Earlier, the state unit of Archaeological Department, Tourism department of the state and museum had shifted the urn of Xuan Zang to the memorial hall from Patna Museum under full security cover.

Apart from Bihar Tourism Minister Janardan Singh Sigriwal, the inaugural ceremony was attended by Chinese delegation comprising administrator of the state administration for religious affairs Ye Xiaowen, vice-president and secretary general of the Buddhist association of China Xue Cheng and deputy general of China National Tourism Administration Mr Zhang Xiqin.

UNI