Maoist chief Prachanda has inked a multi-billion dollar deal with a China-backed firm to transform Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha located close to the Indian border, into an international tourist hub and a 'Mecca' for Buddhist pilgrims. Prachanda, who is also co-chairman of the Lumbini Development National Directive Committee of Nepal (LDNDC), and Executive vice-chairman of the Hong Kong-based Foundation Xiao Wunan signed the MoU at a function on Wednesday to go ahead with the master plan to build Lumbini in to a ‘world peace city’. However, the media was not allowed during the signing of the important MoU between Prachanda and the Chinese official.
The project aims to build infrastructure surrounding Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in western Nepal to attract Buddhist pilgrims from around the world.
The two sides, however, did not give details of the agreement.
The project aims to build infrastructure surrounding Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in western Nepal to attract Buddhist pilgrims from around the world.
The two sides, however, did not give details of the agreement.