Nepal is to host an international conference of Buddhists from November 30 to December 2 in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, organisers have announced.
"Over 250 Buddhist religious leaders and special guests from 35 different countries are expected to participate," Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Dip Kumar Upadhyay told a news conference on Thursday.
The second World Buddhist Summit is being organised by the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), which oversees the welfare and development of the southwestern city which is revered by Buddhists around the world.
LDT chairman Upadhyay said the meeting was being held to "develop Lumbini as an attraction for all peace-loving people of the world."
He said heads of governments of all South Asian countries would be invited to the conference which would be opened by Nepal's King Gyanendra. Members of the royal families of Japan and Thailand would also be invited.
In 1998, the World Buddhist Summit was held in Lumbini followed by the International Buddhist Conference.
The second summit was scheduled for 2001 but was postponed when King Birendra and his family were killed by a drunken Prince Dipendra, who later shot himself.
"The conference will adopt resolutions to set up a World Peace City at Lumbini," said LDT vice chairman Omkar Gauchan.
"The World Peace City will be a Buddhist holy site, similar to Mecca, where Buddhists can worship and meditate for world peace," Upadhyay said.
Last year, King Gyanendra opened a restored a temple built to honour Maya Devi, the Buddha's mother, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Buddha.
Countries with large Buddhist populations such as Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, India, China, and Sri Lanka have built monasteries at Lumbini depicting their varying architectural styles.
The city also hosts museums and a sacred garden around the spot where the Buddha was born in 623 BC.