The 15th meeting of the Executive Council of ABCP was held on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 in New Delhi. Executive Council members from Bangladesh I & II chapters, Sri Lanka I & II chapters, Vietnam I & II chapters, Lao PDR, Republic of Korea, Russia, India, CTA – Dharamsala, Nepal, Mongolia I & II chapters, Japan and Russia I & II chapters attended the meeting.
Ven. Choijamts, President of ABCP, Ven. Khunkur Bymbajav, ABCP Secretary General, Mr. Khy Sovanaratna and Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, Deputy Secretary Generals of ABCP and Mr. Ch. Burenbayar, Senior Manager representing the ABCP Headquarters attended the meeting.
- The meeting discussed and adopted the agenda of the 12th General Assembly of ABCP.
- Executive Council members than discussed the revised and edited version of the ABCP Charter. The revised and edited version of the Charter was circulated by the ABCP Headquarters to all the National Centers on 10 December 2023. By 10 January 2024, ABCP Headquarters received comments and suggestions from the Indian, Japan, Korea, Nepal and Dashchoiling – Mongolia National Centers. The Executive Council in its meeting, discussed and considered these comments and suggestions received from various National Centers. A presentation on which was made by the ABCP HQ Senior Manager Mr. Ch. Burenbayar.
During the discussion of the draft of the ABCP Charter, Executive Council members (from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka) took up the matter related to membership contribution size, the new article in the draft Charter on ABCP and Partnership, as well as the nomination of ABCP President by the three regions of ABCP on a rotational basis. The Executive Council (EC) members noted the importance of membership fees, but some EC members (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) referring to the 14th Executive Council Meeting, held on 7-8 October 2023 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam said that the membership contribution should be scaled and not fixed, as not all National Centers are in a financial position to make the contribution of 1,000 USD a year. No final decision was taken on the matter and it was left open for discussion in the next Executive Council meeting after the Revised and Edited version of the ABCP Charter is adopted. The Executive Council members supported the idea of promoting partnership with individuals, institutions and NGOs which have similar or identical goals and objectives as ABCP for developing partnership and collaboration in the interests of mutual benefit. The Executive Council members (Sri Lanka – Sumanatissa Chapter) noted that the founders of ABCP, 54 years ago, had made it a point that Mongolia should remain the President of ABCP given that it is headquartered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia since its establishment and that the National Centers would like to continue with this decision and tradition, while the three regions of ABCP could become the Vice Presidents on a rotational basis. This suggestion was unanimously supported by all the Executive Council members.
All the members supported the draft of the revised and edited version of the charter. The ABCP HQ was asked to share with all the National Centers the final Revised and Edited Version of the ABCP Charter, after its consideration and approval by the 12th General Assembly. The 15th Executive Council by a majority of votes, endorsed the draft Revised and Edited version of the Charter and decided to recommend the General Assembly for its consideration and approval.
- The Executive Council discussed the request from Bhutan for ABCP membership. Bhutan is known for its ancient Buddhist Culture and for its standing as a Buddhist nation. The Executive Council unanimously approved the request from Bhutan and recommended to the General Assembly for its approval and acceptance of Bhutan as a member of ABCP.
- The Myanmar delegation, which had come for the 12th General Assembly of ABCP, had also expressed their willingness and desire to join ABCP. However, a formal request from Myanmar is still awaited and it was decided the request will be considered when it is received from Myanmar.
- The Executive Council Meeting decided to set up an Editorial Committee of the General Assembly to draft the final documents of the General Assembly. The Editorial committee included representatives from the National Centers of India, Russia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
- Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, representing the Indian National Center, informed that Ven. Jangchub Choeden, who was holding the position of the Vice President of ABCP, had expressed his desire to resign from this position in view of his election as the Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). Considering the resignation request of Ven. Jangchub Choeden, Mr. Sonam Wangchuk proposed that Ven. Konchok Wangdu from India may be accepted as the Vice President of ABCP for the remainder of the tenure of Geshe Jangchub Choedon. Members of the Executive Council approved the request.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks.
A general view of the 15th ABCP Executive Council meeting in session
The opening of the 15th ABCP Executive Council meeting left to right: Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, Ven. B. Munkhbaatar, Most Ven. D. Choijamts, ABCP President, Most Ven. Byambajav, ABCP Secretary General and Mr. C. Burenbayar
(Left to right) EC members from Russia, Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka (Chapter 2)
l to r: EC members from Vietnam and CTA-Dharamshala
EC members from Bangladesh
EC members from Cambodia, Japan and Mongolia (Dashichoiling)
EC Executive Council member from Cambodia (Dr. Khy Sovanaratana, center)
ABCP Executive Council members
ABCP Executive Council Members
