China, Myanmar sign MoU on setting up friendly religious relations

(Xinhua)    

08:32, February 23, 2012     

YANGON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding on establishing friendly relationship between the Beijing Lingguang Temple of China and the Shwedagon Pagoda of Myanmar was held here Wednesday.

The signing took place on the platform of the Shwedagon Pagoda after the Chinese Buddhist delegation attended a ceremony marking the 2600th anniversary of the founding of the Pagoda.

Before the ceremony, Master Ming Sheng, Vice-President of the Buddhist Association of China, told a press conference, attended by local media, that the large amount of money and jewelry donated by Myanmar Buddhist believers in offerings to the Sacred Buddha tooth relic during a 48-day enshrinement visit to Myanmar in November-December 2011 will be used for Buddhist and charity undertakings in Myanmar in addition to repairing the Buddha Tooth Pagoda.

Master Ming disclosed that the association will duplicate three pagodas and give Myanmar people as a gift for keeping the mimic Buddha Teeth of Myanmar.

He added that the association will also make donations to charity undertakings in Myanmar, such as building primary and middle schools, medical aids for cataract surgery and other charity projects.

The association's move aims to practice the Buddhist spirit, having mercy at heart as well as serving the society and benefiting the people, to strengthen the friendly communication between the Buddhist circles of two countries and to reinforce the friendship between the people of two countries, he clarified.

He underscored that the 4th enshrinement visit of Sacred Budda Tooth Relic of China to Myanmar from Nov. 6 to Dec. 24, 2011 has achieved remarkable success after 48-day enshrinement in three cities with high attention given by both Chinese and Myanmar state leaders, close cooperation and meticulous organization of relevant departments, as well as strong support from the Buddhist circles of two countries.

"Through this visit, the friendly communication between the Buddhist circles of two countries has been promoted, the friendship between the peoples of the two countries has been enhanced and the religious exchange and cooperation of two countries has been broadened and deepened," he said.

He expressed the belief that the Buddhist communication and exchange between the two countries will be further expanded and the friendship between Chinese and Myanmar people will be deeper and deeper with strong support from the governments of both countries, joint efforts of Buddhist circles and common wishes of Chinese and Myanmar people.

Deputy Director of the State Administration of Religious Affairs of China Zhang Lebin also made a speech on the occasion, expressing the belief that deepening Buddhist culture exchange would play a greater role in enhancing the two countries' bilateral ties and boosting world peace.

Chinese Buddha sacred tooth relic was conveyed from Beijing's Lingguang Temple to Myanmar's three cities -- Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay for public homage by more than four million Buddhist devotees.

At the invitation of successive Myanmar governments, the Chinese Buddha sacred tooth relic had been conveyed to Myanmar four times in 1955-56, 1994, 1996-97 and 2011 respectively.

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