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The Minister of Culture and Youth of Singapore, Mr Lawrence Wong, offered an orchid named in honour of UNESCO in the margin of the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in Doha. The naming of Dendrobium UNESCO commemorates Singapore’s ratification of the World Heritage Convention.

On behalf of UNESCO, the Director-General Irina Bokova said: "The naming of this orchid is a great honour for UNESCO, and I take this as a symbol of the values we share – as a symbol also of the strength of the cooperation between Singapore and UNESCO.”

In presence of her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chair of the World Heritage Committee, Minister Lawrence Wong stressed the expertise of Singapore in botanical research and hybridization, whose expertise is shown at the famous Singapore Botanic Gardens. "The heritage of this flower can be traced to places all over the world – from the Philippines, to Papua New Guinea, to Australia and the United Kingdom. In many ways, it embodies the coming together of many nations in the spirit of mutual appreciation, exchange, cooperation”.

“The art of Hybridization is also a lesson of commitment and patience, and this resonates strongly with the mandate of UNESCO, as a symbol of the long-term commitment it takes to build the foundations of lasting peace,” declared the Director-General, before she placed the plaque with the name into the Orchid pot.