On the occasion of the 26^th WFB Korea Inauguration Ceremony hosted by 2012 Yeosu Expo, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who came to participate, including the President of Jogye Order, Abbots of the Jeolla North and South Province Head Temples, and other Venerables and guests who came to offer congratulations on this auspicious occasion. Most of all, we would like to thank our gracious host, Yeosu Expo Organizing Committee and the Government of Yeosu City for their generous material and mental support. On behalf of the Korean Buddhists, we would also like to cordially welcome the President and General Secretary of WFB Headquarter and Royal Thai Government who came, despite Thailand’s serious emergency flood situation, to offer good wishes for the success of the next year’s 25^th WFB General Conference, 17^th WFBY, and 9^th Meeting of the Council of the WBU.

Sixty-one years ago in May 25, 1950, The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) was founded at the venerated shrine of the Holy Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka. WFB was the first Buddhists Organization which brought together Buddhists from different lineages and traditions around the world. It was established to create fraternal bonds between Buddhists, and with the hope that we may all work in harmony and exchange information to benefit all sentient beings. WFB Conference was founded with the principle that Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhist practitioners will work together as the followers of the Buddha, and to achieve the ultimate goal: spread the Dharma, salvation of mankind, and world peace. With the determination to pursue the mission and duty of Buddhists, WFB Conference were planned for every 2 years, and it is already the time to hold the 26^th WFB Conference, at the same time as the 2012 Yeosu Expo.

The 26^th WFB Conference Theme has been decided as “Buddhist Ecological-Environmental Thoughts & Practices for the 21st Century”. When viewed from the Buddhist perspective, all life in this world has Buddha nature and we know that interdependence taught by the Buddha is true and significant, especially when we see through the ecological way of thought. Especially in the modern world, ecological problems we now face is not limited to one particular region or nation, thus we must work together to protect this precious mother earth. We must remember that in the 21^st Century, environmental protection propagation and its implementation is the responsibility of the whole mankind.

With the blessings from the President of Jogye Order, 6 Jeolla Province Head Temples Abbots and Korean Buddhists we promise to make this Conference a great success. I sincerely wish for all the participants who have graced this occasion to always be with the Blessings of the Triple Gem.