PROGRAM

The 15th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration 2018

Theme: “Buddhist contribution for Human Development”
Venue: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Wang Noi, Ayutthaya
and United Nations Conference Centre Bangkok, Thailand
Program: 25th – 27th May 2018

Thursday, 24 May 2018

- Arrival of participants at Airport Reception
All Day
- Registration at the Hotel Lobby
Friday, 25 May 2018
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Conference Hall, Ayutthaya
08:00 hours Arrival of participants at MCU Conference Hall
Opening Ceremony
• Arrival of His Holiness Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana, The
Supreme Patriarch of Thailand
• Background report of the conference by The Most Ven. Prof. Dr.
Phra Brahmapundit, the Rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya
09:00 – 09:30 hours
University, President of the International Council for Day of Vesak
(ICDV) and the International Association of Buddhist Universities
(IABU)
• Speech by His Holiness Supreme Patriarch of Thailand

09:30 – 10:00 hours Welcome Address by The Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmapundit
Keynote Speech by on “Buddhist Contribution for Human Development”
10:00 – 10:45 hours by His Excellency Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, Honerable Prime Minister
of the Kingdom of Bhutan
Messages from Supreme Patriarch and Buddhist leaders from different
10:45 – 11:15 hours
traditional
11:15 – 12:15 hours Luncheon
12:30 – 13:00 hours Group Photo
• Arrival of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun
• His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun is
attended and escorted by Deputy Prime Minister and organizing committee
• His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun pays
Homage to the Triple Gem
13:00 – 15:00 hours
• Background report of the conference by HE Deputy Prime Minister
• Inauguration speech by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn
Bodindradebayavarangkun
• His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun departs

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15:00-15:30 Messages from Buddhist leaders

15:30 – 17:30 hours Panel Discussion on “Buddhist Contribution for Human Development”

18:00 hours Return to Hotel

19:00 hours Dinner
Saturday, 26 May 2018
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Conference Hall, Ayutthaya
08:30 hours Arrival of participants at MCU Conference Hall
08:30 – 09:00 hours Morning Chanting
09:00 - 09:15 hours Message from Buddhist leaders
09:15 – 11:00 hours Panel Discussion on “Empowering youth through Buddhist Education”
11:00 hours Luncheon
13:00 – 13:30 hours Message from Buddhist leaders
13:30 – 15:30 hours Panel Discussion on “Engaged Buddhist for Social Welfare”
Panel Discussion on “Preserving Cultural Identity in an Interconnected
15:30 - 17:30 hours
World”
17:30 – 18:30 hours Dinner at MCU
19:00 hours Cultural performance
21:00 hours Return to Hotel
Sunday, 27 May 2018
United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC)
08:00 hours Arrival of participants at UNCC, Bangkok
- Message from General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand
- Welcome Remark from the Executive Secretary of the UNESCAP
09:00 – 10:00 hours - Message from H.E. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General
- Message from H.E. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
10:00 – 11:00 hours Messages from Political and Religious leaders
11:00 hours Luncheon
12:30 hours Group photo
13:30 – 15:15 hours Report on Conference
• Announcing of the 2018 Bangkok Declaration
15:15 – 16:00 hours
• Closing ceremony
Leaving for Buddhamonthon for Vesak circumambulation in
16:00 hours Srisakyadasapalanyana Buddha Statute’s compound, Buddhamonthon,
Nakhornpathom
19:00 hours Return to Hotel
Dinner
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Monday, 28 May 2018

All Day All participants check-out from hotel and depart

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