Zemithang, Arunachal Pradesh: In a strong, clear and unambiguous message to China, a group of top Himalayan Buddhist leaders on Monday visited Arunachal Pradesh and held a day-long national conference on Nalanda Buddhism Tradition at Gorsam Stupa, Zemithang in the state's Tawang district on Monday.

In a fresh attempt to lay claim on sovereign Indian territory, China recently attempted to rename 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh following which the meeting of top Himalayan Buddhist leaders was held in the border state.

About 600 delegates reportedly attended the day-long conference and it is also being seen as an attempt to give a strong push to Himalayan Buddhism.

Zemithang in Arunachal Pradesh, where the meeting was held, is the last village in India, along the Indo-China border.

Earlier, in December 2022, Chinese PLA troops clashed with Indian soldiers on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh.

According to reports, delegates of revered Rinpoches, Geahes, Khenpos and scholars from all the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh (Union Territory), Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir (Paddar-Pangi), Sikkim, North Bengal (Darjeeling, Doors, Jaigaon and Kalimpong), Densa South India Monasteries and 35 delegates from various parts of Arunachal Pradesh like Tuting, Mechuka, Taksing and Anini and others attended the conference on Monday.

Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the Buddhist culture, which thrives on the peaceful co-existence of every sentient being, should not only be preserved but also propagated, reports ANI.

"The state has a big chunk of the Buddhist population and fortunately they have kept their culture and traditions safe with religious fervour," the Arunachal CM added.

"The main pillar on which Nalanda Buddhism stands is the principle of 'reasoning and analysis'. This means we can even bring the teachings of Lord Buddha under the ambit of reasoning and analysis. This logic is based on science and perhaps Buddhism is the only religion that gives its followers this liberty," CM Khandu said.

The Arunachal CM welcomed the delegates, and said the state is home to a mix of religious followers.

"Arunachal Pradesh is not home only to Buddhism but to several religions, including those who follow their own indigenous faith. I believe that every religion and faith should flourish and exist peacefully. I am proud that we Arunachalis are doing just that," he said.

Khandu expressed gratitude to the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) for organising the one-day national conference on Nalanda Buddhist tradition, ANI reported.