Nepal signs deal to turn Lumbini into ‘world peace city’

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.