[Photo provided to China Daily]

"We wish that our messages are heard by the outside world," Kam Yiu-kuen, president of the Buddhist Studies Group in Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said at the seminar's opening.

He is also the vice-president of the World Youth Buddhist Society, a Hong Kong-based body.

Kam, who has participated in almost all symposiums held by his organization, said he has seen the themes evolve from pure religious topics to social issues like healthcare and sustainable development.

In addition to the spiritual value that they bring to people, religions can play a role in influencing world peace.

Jingkong, who has lived in Singapore for a long time, promotes harmony among religious groups, Shi said at the symposium. Jingkong helped the Muslim community in Singapore raise funds to build a school.

"Altruism is the ultimate goal of Buddhism," Khenpo Sodargye, president of the World Youth Buddhist Society and a famous Tibetan Buddhist scholar, said in his speech to stress the significance of cross-religious exchanges.