The closing ceremony of the Fifth World Buddhist Forum is held in Putian, East China's Fujian province on Oct 30. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Fifth World Buddhist Forum concluded in Putian, East China's Fujian province, on Oct 30.

The World Buddhist Forum has played a positive role in Buddhism exchanges, maintaining world peace and promoting people's well-being, said Wang Zuoan, deputy head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs.

As the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Fujian has profound Buddhist historical and cultural resources, and is important in boosting the convergence of different cultures, Wang added, pointing out that the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative provides great opportunities for the city’s economic and social development through cultural exchanges with foreign countries.

Tang Dengjie, governor of Fujian, expressed his heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Fujian Provincial People's Government to all the attendees and staff of the forum in his speech at the closing ceremony.

Fujian will take full advantages of the achievements of the forum, enriching and developing the mentality, morality and humanistic spirit contained in China’s traditional culture, said Tang, in the hope of encouraging believers to jointly promote and deepen the construction of new Fujian and the BRI.

Master Zongxing, vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China and Master Heng Sure, chairman of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, read the forum declaration during the ceremony, calling for people-to-people and cultural ties among countries along the BRI, inheriting and enriching the world Buddhist cultural heritage.

Under the theme of "Exchange with mutual learning, middle way for perfect harmony", the forum attracted over 1,000 people including Buddhists, specialists and scholars from 55 countries and regions.