By Hu Qing
Updated: 2014-05-23
On the occasion of the Qingdao International Horticultural 2014 Expo, the Holland Horticultural Days kicked off in Qingdao on May 22nd.
A seminar with the theme of "Green Cities" was held on May 22nd. Photo by Hu Qing
Organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the event will last until May 24th, including two themed seminars focusing on horticulture and agriculture, and a Dutch pear promotion event at the Dutch Garden at Qingdao's expo, which opened last month and will last until the end of October.
Dutch ambassador to China Aart Jacobi (second, left) visits the Holland Garden
at International Horticultural Expo 2014 Qingdao. Photo by Hu Qing
China and Holland have a good bilateral relationship. Holland has its garden and the nation's symbol – a windmill – at Qingdao's expo, and China will participate in the Floriade 2022 world expo, held in the new Dutch city of Almere (20kms from Amsterdam), according to Aart Jacobi, Dutch ambassador to China.
The three-day event aims not only to bring Dutch expertise to Shandong, but also provides an opportunity for further communication and cooperation between the two governments, companies and research institutions of the Netherlands and China.
Visitors swarm to the Holland Garden at International Horticultural Expo 2014 Qingdao.
Photo by Hu Qing.
Li Fengli, secretary-general of the International Horticultural Expo 2014 Qingdao executive committee, said the event offers an opportunity to learn more from the Netherlands, which is the largest exporter of floriculture products and is also the birthplace of the International Horticultural Exposition.
He hoped that the event could help local residents and visitors have a wider understanding of the Netherland's horticulture and promote bilateral exchange and collaboration in this field.