I am glad to be here."Bogor (ANTARA News) - Princess Astrid, representing King Philippe of Belgium, visited the Bogor Botanical Garden in Bogor, West Java, as part of her official state visit to Indonesia to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries on Wednesday.
"I am glad to be here," she stated after arriving at the garden, welcomed by garden officials who immediately escorted her to the Orchid Garden.
On the occasion, she took the opportunity to plant a bamboo tree named Bambusa Lako Widjaja (Poaceae).
After planting the bamboo tree, she then undertook a tour of the garden, including the Astrid Street, a name given by the Dutch East Indies government during the visit of Queen Astrid to the botanical garden in 1928.
Princess Astrid took the opportunity to have her picture taken under the sign of Jalan Astrid (Astrid Street).
Princess Astrid, who is the granddaughter of Queen Astrid and King Leopold III, visited the botanical garden as a follow-up visit made by her grandmother and father in 1928 when it was under the name of Lands Plantentuin te Buitenzorg.
Prof. Enny, deputy for biological sciences of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), who accompanied the princess, explained that after the arrival of Queen Astrid and King Leopold III, a canna flower plant (canna hybrida) has been grown along Jalan Astrid, with its flowers symbolizing the colors of Belgiums flag.
"Since the visit of Queen Astrid in 1928, the plant, with its black-, yellow-, and red-colored flowers symbolizing friendship between the two countries, has been planted along the street," she said.
Before visiting the botanical garden, Princess Astrid attended a seminar on "Sustainable Agriculture: Towards a Bio-based Economy" at the International Convention Center of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture in Bogor, West Java.
(Reporting by Aubrey Kandelila Fanani/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
