The International Horticultural Exposition Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 opened Wednesday in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai amid cool breezes.

Chumpol Silapa-archa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Sports, presided over the unofficial opening ceremony with a northern-styled dance procession at the Royal Rajapruek Park. Diplomats and representatives from participating countries witnessed the event.

The event was followed by the flag-raising ceremony with the flag of Thailand, the flag representing the International Asssociation of Horticultural Producers: AIPH and the flag representing the International Horticultural Exposition Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 as well as the flags of the 30 participating nations. 
 
Meanwhile, the official opening ceremony was scheduled for Jan 15, to be presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
 
The International Horticultural Exposition Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 runs through March 14, 2012, expecting to attract over two million visitors. 
 
Apart from marking the three auspicious occasions of His Majesty the King’s 7th cycle birthday, Her Majesty The Queen’s 80th birthday, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s 60th birthday, the grand floral exposition was organised to pay tribute to the perseverance of the Royal family's royal initiatives and royal projects, to provoke a response against global warming, to demonstrate the potential in horticultural developments of Thailand, to promote international cooperation, to exchange horticultural knowledge and technologies among horticulturists both at the national and international levels and to promote the economic cooperation, society, culture and tourism among the participating countries.
 
The previous Royal Flora Ratchaphruek was held in 2006 in this northern province.