International Day of Vesak 2025 – "Buddhist Cosmopolitanism and Exchange along the Silk Roads"

On the occasion of the International Day of Vesak, a Symposium on "Buddhist Cosmopolitanism and Exchange along the Silk Roads: Interplay between Buddhism and Trade in Ancient Asia" will be held on 12 May 2025, at UNESCO Headquarters, in Room IV. This event is organized by the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO.

The Symposium will explore the historical connections between Buddhism and trade in ancient Asia, with a particular focus on their role in fostering cultural exchange along the ancient Silk Roads. Discussions will highlight the dynamic interplay between Buddhism and commerce, notably in South and Southeast Asia.

A distinguished panel of speakers will participate, including a keynote address by Professor Osmund Bopearachchi, Corresponding Member of the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres and Emeritus Director of Research at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS-ENS).

The event is organized by the Permanent Delegation of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to UNESCO

Participation upon invitation.