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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has appreciated the revival programme of the Nalanda University of Bihar and has cited that varsity is a "great ancient centre of learning".
The heads of the ASEAN member states "are deeply impressed with the sanctity and significance of the great ancient centre of learning in Nalanda that attracted many scholars from South, South-East and East Asia," said a statement issued during the 4th East Asia summit.
"They noted that the Nalanda University was a great centre of intellectual activity in Buddhist philosophy, mathematics, medicine and other disciplines," the statement said.
The ASEAN statement has called for "appropriate funding arrangements on voluntary basis from governments and other sources including public-private partnership".
The proposal for the establishment of the university as a "non-state, non-profit, secular and self-governing international institution with a continental focus that will bring together the brightest and the most dedicated students from all countries of Asia" has also been appreciated by the ASEAN leaders.
The university will "enable" its students "to acquire liberal and human education and give them the means needed for pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies and thus achieve qualities of tolerance and accommodation," said the statement.
