An artist performs during the "Thailand Day" event at the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, July 28, 2019. The "Thailand Day" event was held at the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A series of events on Sunday celebrated the history, culture and art of Thailand at the gardening exhibition open in Beijing throughout summer.

BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The International Horticultural Exhibition in Beijing celebrated "Thailand Day" on Sunday. The event showcased Thailand's history, culture and art.

Exhibitions and shows in the Thai House and Garden pavilion put Thailand's history, classical dance, and arts of paper umbrella painting and fruit carving in the spotlight. Visitors could also try out Thai massage and cuisine.

Piriya Khempon, ambassador of Thailand to China, said that the "Thailand Day" was an important opportunity to showcase the country's rich heritage, agricultural products, and travel destinations, as well as authentic arts and culture to the international community.

"Thailand will continue our close cooperation with China in promoting sustainable development and building our planet into a beautiful homeland for all," he said.

Thailand hosted the International Horticultural Exhibition in Chiang Mai in 2006, presenting over 2,200 species and 2.5 million tropical plants and flowers, according to Chen Zhou, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Chen said Thailand had offered great support and shared its experience with China as Beijing prepared for the expo.

The Beijing horticultural expo, themed "Live Green, Live Better," is open until Oct. 7 and features a vast collection of flowers, fruit trees, Chinese herbal medicines and plant landscaping techniques, as well as ideas for green development.