Buddhism and Building of Harmonious Society

EDITOR’S NOTE: To mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of Tibet Autonomous Region, the "Pearl on the Land of Snow—China Tibetan Cultural Week" was held July 15-21 in Hong Kong under the joint auspices of the State Council Information Office, the Central Government Liaison Office in Hong Kong and the People’s Government of Tibet Autonomous Region. On the afternoon of July 16, eminent monks from Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan and local Buddhists and Buddhism scholars held a forum on how their religion is related to the building of a harmonious society and in what ways it can contribute to the endeavor. Zhu Weiqun, deputy director of United Front Work Department, CPC Central Committee, spoke on the occasion. Excerpts of the speech follow: