The 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition concluded Wednesday evening with a grand ceremony in Beijing.

Bernard Oosterom, president of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) addressed the closing ceremony and spoke highly of the "splendid" flower show.

"This Expo has been remarkable. The area and scale exceeded any event like it before," said Oosterom, adding that, "The international attention it received has been unparalleled and the number of countries and international organizations participating exceeded all expectations."

Covering an area of 503 hectares, Expo 2019 Beijing, which drew participants from 110 countries and international organizations, opened on April 29 in Yanqing District.

According to official statistics, the expo received about 7.8 million visitors from its opening day to September 23.

Noting that the event has been "a tool for defining and illustrating the ecological vision of the People's Republic of China," the AIPH president said it has "reached citizens and governments from across China and the globe."

He believed that the event has "stimulated greater attention on the need to understand the environment we live in and to make it a core part of future development."

Sending congratulations on delivering "such an outstanding event," Oosterom also expressed his gratitude to the organizers, relevant bodies and individuals for all the work they put into the event.

Expo 2019 Beijing was hosted by the Chinese government and organized by the Beijing municipal government. It is an A1 international horticultural exhibition, which was accredited by the AIPH and recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).