No China-UN pact on Lumbini, says Nepal

In a new twist to the controversial Chinese plan to develop Lumbini — Lord Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal — as a ‘Mecca for Buddhists’, Nepal’s foreign minister disclosed on Friday that no pact has been signed between the Chinese-government backed NGO and UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in this regard.

Updated on: Aug 20, 2011, 24:56:40 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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In a new twist to the controversial Chinese plan to develop Lumbini — Lord Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal — as a ‘Mecca for Buddhists’, Nepal’s foreign minister disclosed on Friday that no pact has been signed between the Chinese-government backed NGO and UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in this regard.

Deputy prime minister and foreign mnister Upendra Yadav said news reports of a deal between Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooepration Foundation (APEC) and UNIDO to develop Lumbini with funds totaling $3 billion are false.

Yadav said that UNIDO has released a statement detaching itself from reports that it had signed a deal with the Hong Kong based foundation last month. “This chapter of APEC developing Lumbini as a ‘special development zone’ is closed as UNIDO has denied existence of the agreement. It was all just rumour,” Yadav said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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