Thirty-two countries will participate in Thailand's three-month-long Royal Flora Expo 2006, at which more than 2,000 rare species of tropical plants and flowers will be on display, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced Saturday.

In his first radio address to the public after a four-month absence, Thaksin said monarchs from several countries, including Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, will preside over their countries' opening of representative plants' exhibitions at the flower and plant exposition.

Botanicals dispatched from countries around the world will participate in the international horticultural exposition, to be held from Nov. 1, 2006 to Jan. 31, 2007 in Thailand's northern resort province of Chiang Mai.

About two million visitors are expected to visit the exposition -- the first time for such an event in Thailand and also the first country in Southeast Asia to host such an event.

The aim of holding the exhibition is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Thai King's accession to the throne and to also celebrate the king's 80th birthday which will fall on Dec. 5, 2007, Thaksin added.

Source: Xinhua