The 2nd WBF, jointly organized by the Buddhist Association of China, the Buddha’s Light International Association, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, and the China Religious Culture Communication Association, was China’s first nongovernmental international religious forum held on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. This important event, made possible with the support and cooperative participation of practitioners on the mainland and Taiwan, is another significant indication of the ongoing warming of Cross-Straits relations – in this case with participants uniting to achieve a common goal: Advancing and promoting the philosophy of Chinese Buddhism to benefit and bring tranquility to the mind and spirit of all living beings.

To reach this historical phase, Buddhists on both sides of the Straits strived for 60 years, and this precisely interprets the Forum’s theme — “A Harmonious World, A Synergy of Conditions.” At the 17 sub-forums held during the five-day event, mainland and Taiwan Buddhist followers and scholars carried out in-depth exchange and communication, which enhanced mutual understanding and heralded a new stage for man and Buddha to join together to create a more harmonious environment.

Government Support

More than 1,200 eminent monks, scholars and figures from 50-plus countries and regions attended this unprecedented Buddhist event. Among them were Master Yi Cheng, president of the Buddhist Association of China, Master Hsing Yun, founder of the Buddha’s Light International Association, and Master Kok Kwong, president of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association. Also attending were leaders of the three major schools of Chinese Buddhism, namely Pali Buddhism, Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism.

The 1st WBF was held in 2006 on Putuo Mountain, a famous Buddhist shrine in Zhejiang Province. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, the then secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang, mobilized all concerned departments within the province to guarantee the success of the event. In support of the 2nd WBF, Jia Qinglin, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visited Wuxi to meet with delegates attending the forum. Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, addressed the opening assembly.