REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SINGAPORE -- An orchid species has been named after Indonesian First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the National Botanical Garden of Singapore (NBGS), which was inaugurated during President Jokowi's visit to Singapore on Wednesday.

The orchid species named after Iriana Jokowi was earlier called Dendrobium christabela, and now, it has been renamed to Dendrobium iriana jokowi.

First Lady Iriana Jokowi said she was honored as such a beautiful flower has been named after her.

"I feel honored," Iriana noted, adding that she does not particularly collect orchids at home.

However, Iriana Jokowi described orchids, which need careful and kind treatment, as similar to how attentively and sincerely friendship should be maintained.

In accordance with her comment, President Jokowi described the naming of an orchid after his spouse's name "Iriana Jokowi" as an impressive diplomatic step by Singapore.

"This is called flower diplomacy, wherein a flower is used as a medium to build friendship. I am impressed by this different approach in diplomacy," he affirmed.

Singapore has also named other orchid species in the NBGS after Ani Yudhoyono, the wife of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as well as Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.

President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana Jokowi are on a two-day state visit to Singapore on July 28-29.

The visit focuses on increasing economic cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, President Jokowi met Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He also attended a business conference in which more than 150 CEOs of major Singapore-based companies participated.

President Jokowi and Prime Minister Loong also witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoU) related to e-governance, youth and sports affairs, and strategic cooperation between the chambers of commerce of the two countries.

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