Beijing, April 29 (QNA) - Deputy Commissioner-General of Qatar pavilion at Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition 2019, Dr. Fayqa Ashkanani, said that the pavilion of the State of Qatar was built on a total area of 2100 square meters while the construction area is 3050 square meters, noting that the design was made by Qatari engineer Fatima Fawzi and took six months of workshops, discussion and exchange of ideas.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) after the opening of Qatar pavilion in Beijing Expo 2019, Dr. Ashkanani said that the workshops and discussions were resulted in choosing the current design which is inspired by the Sidra Tree.

She explained that choosing the Sidra stemmed from the great appreciation of the Qatari community for this tree which is strong and solid and bears all the difficult conditions. It remains green despite drought and lack of water, therefore, the Sidra tree is a symbol of the State of Qatar because of its strength and steadfastness despite the circumstances.

Dr. Ashkanani said that the pavilion consists of five sections, each section is designed like the Sidra, and the number five is linked to the five pillars of Islam. The first section is the reception and the Majlis, which reflects the hospitality of the people of Qatar, especially when welcoming the guests with dates and the Qatari coffee.

The second section moves directly to the future, not to the past, as a reflection of the future vision of the State of Qatar, and the assertion that Qatar is strong and determined towards the future. The section contains models of the stadiums of the 2022 World Cup and Qatar Airways. A number of state entities will present their projects and future vision in this hall, she added.

Meanwhile, the third section is the Green Tree. This section reflects the interest of the State of Qatar in green development, agriculture, environment and food security. This section is an affirmation that Qatar, despite its progress towards the future, will not compromise on creating a more sustainable future by preserving the environment, energy and water resources, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, Dr. Ashkanani explained.

On the fourth section of Qatar pavilion at Beijing Expo 2019, Deputy Commissioner-General of the pavilion Dr. Fayqa Ashkanani said that this section was called "Souq Waqif" which represents history that is a source of pride for the people of Qatar who, despite the progress and development, does not give up its history, heritage and religion.

This section contains four figures representing the four crafts practiced by the Qatari people in the past, as well as the traditional clothing which visitors can wear and take photos while wearing them. This section also has interactive screens that allow visitors to put their pictures on the map of Qatar, a woman who draw Henna for visitors and a calligrapher to write guest names in Arabic, she added.

The fifth section includes a garden for children with interactive screens that enable children to draw and encourage them to innovate. There is also a section for teaching children agriculture by helping them to grow plants. The pavilion will take care of the plant until the end of the exhibition, after that the child can take the plant with him, which promotes children's awareness of the concepts of love and care for agriculture, she said.

Dr. Ashkanani said that there are five gardens hanging at the top of each garden tree and the largest is Al Bida garden on the roof of the pavilion. she noted that the horticultural exhibition which Qatar will host in 2021 will be located in Al Bida Park. The second garden is the Crescent Park while the third is the Holy Quran Park which was established in cooperation with Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. The fifth park is the therapeutic park located in the Sidra Medical Center in Qatar and aims to treat and train breathing, meditation and haphazard healing.

On the ground floor there are also gardens, most notably the Future Park with interactive activities and water basins, and panoramic views of the buildings and towers of the State of Qatar.

In conclusion, Dr. Ashkanani stressed the importance of participating in Beijing Expo 2019, noting that Qatar Expo 2021 logo will be launched at Qatar pavilion in the exhibition. She looks forward to winning awards in this edition, especially as the pavilion of the State of Qatar is one of the largest and most beautiful buildings. (QNA)