On 11 February, the Chinese Embassy in the UK and the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew Gardens) jointly hosted the opening reception of the 2026 Orchid Festival inspired by China. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang and Kew’s Director Richard Deverell attended the event and delivered remarks. Over 300 guests from various sectors in China and the UK were present.
In his remarks, Ambassador Zheng thanked Kew for hosting an orchid festival dedicated to China and extended festive greetings for the Year of the Horse to all guests. He noted that orchids are loved in both China and the UK. Known as one of the Four Gentlemen in the realm of plants, the orchid is praised for its modesty and noble character. The Qing Dynasty poet Zheng Banqiao wrote, “This flower has been the embodiment of quiet virtue since ancient times, seeking no fame, but the company of mist and haze.” In the UK, the moth orchid has repeatedly been voted the most popular houseplant. This year’s festival features orchids from around the world, especially species native to China, which are sure to be warmly received by visitors.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that ever since the launch of reform and opening up, profound transformation has taken place in China. In the new era, China has been implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilisation. Guided by the belief that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and committed to peaking CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, China has been speeding up efforts to promote green and low-carbon transition and protect the environment. It is building 49 national parks and 16 national botanical gardens, which not only protect nature but also preserve cultural heritage and promote local sustainable development. In today’s China, the sky is bluer, the mountains greener and the rivers cleaner.
Ambassador Zheng further noted that during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent visit to China, government departments and enterprises of the two countries reached more than 20 agreements, including the establishment of a high-level climate and nature partnership. Both sides expressed their commitment to deepening cooperation on climate change and ecological conservation. It is hoped that Kew will seize this new opportunity and take the lead in China-UK cooperation on botanical research and exchanges.
Director Deverell spoke highly of the achievements made through the long-standing botanical research exchanges and cooperation between Kew and its Chinese partners. China is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, with more than 1,700 species of orchids. During his recent visits to China, he has seen China’s unremitting efforts and remarkable achievements in advancing ecological conservation. There is much more that Kew can do in partnership with China to jointly contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.
This year’s Orchid Festival coincides with the Chinese New Year of the Horse and marks the first time in the event’s 30-year history that China has been featured as the theme country. At the event, artists from the two countries jointly presented splendid performances. A culinary team from Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, prepared exquisite Chinese cuisine. The “Chinese Bookshelf” arranged by the Embassy showcased books on traditional Chinese culture. Chinese and international guests showed keen interest, exchanged views on cooperation, and celebrated the Chinese New Year together. The event concluded on a warm and convivial note.
