China's Natural Beauty Blooms at Kew's Orchid Fest

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is celebrating its 30th annual Orchid Festival, with this year's event focusing on the natural beauty of China. Running from February 7 to March 8, the festival coincides with China's Spring Festival, underscoring a significant cultural connection.

China's ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, spoke at the opening, emphasizing the importance of environmental policy and international collaboration. He highlighted the orchid's esteemed status in Chinese culture, symbolizing integrity and resilience, and noted the strong bond between Kew and China, which spans over two decades.

Kew's director, Richard Deverell, praised the "long, deep and evolving scientific partnership" with China, citing collaborations in seed conservation and biodiversity research. He recognized China's growing influence as a "science superpower" and commended its ambitious program of creating national parks and botanical gardens, acknowledging Kew's role as a global center for botanical study and conservation.