On October 14, the press conference for the sixth World Buddhist Forum was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang. Representatives from the China Buddhist Association and the Forum’s organizing committee shared details about the upcoming event.

The World Buddhist Forum, initiated by China, is the largest and most influential international dialogue platform for Buddhist exchanges, having successfully hosted five previous sessions. This year’s forum is set to take place from October 15 to 17 in Ningbo, Zhejiang, and will welcome participants from 72 countries and regions, including Buddhist leaders, scholars, and guest representatives. Organized by the China Buddhist Association and the China Religious Culture Exchange Association, under the theme “Shared Aspirations, Harmonious Coexistence,” the forum aims to highlight the Buddhist community’s collective understanding and proactive engagement with global challenges amid rapid changes in the world today. It seeks to encourage mutual respect, harmonious coexistence, and collaborative exchanges among diverse civilizations and faiths, contributing Buddhist wisdom and strength to global peace and human welfare.

The forum’s agenda features a range of activities, including an opening ceremony, main forum discussions, seven sub-forums, a new media forum, a television forum, and a closing ceremony. Among the sub-forum topics are the inclusive wisdom of Buddhism, its spiritual essence, the transmission of teachings, the compilation of sacred texts, social responsibility, cultural arts, the ideas and meanings of Humanistic Buddhism, the Middle Way, and the pursuit of equality in wisdom. These discussions aim to deeply explore the essence, philosophical depth, and contemporary relevance of Buddhist culture, while showcasing China’s status of religious freedom and achievements in Buddhist cultural development. The forum is also designed to enhance communication and cooperation among various international Buddhist communities, academic circles, and cultural sectors.

During the press conference, details about the forum’s preparations, the historical and cultural background of the hosting location, and the region’s socioeconomic development were also addressed, along with a Q&A session for the attending journalists.