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Kamala Harris: US Vice President - and official namesake of an orchid
Photo: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / AFP
Flowery honor: Singapore named an orchid after the Democratic politician on the occasion of the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris.
The 56-year-old received a certificate in the presidential palace, in which she is noted as the official godmother for the hybrid plant called "Papilionanda Kamala Harris".
The orchid is the national plant of the Southeast Asian city-state.
On a table was a splendid copy of the flower with "light purple-pink flowers adorned with distinctive pink spots and mosaics and a magenta lip," as the Singaporean newspaper "Straits Times" wrote. In the past, Singapore had named orchids after the British Princess Diana, Margaret Thatcher and the Japanese Emperor Akihito, among others. The German Chancellor is also the godmother of an orchid: the "Dendrobium Angela Merkel". This honor is also known as "orchid diplomacy" in the economic metropolis.
Harris had arrived in Singapore on Sunday.
She first met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday.
Until Tuesday she also wants to speak to other government officials, visit a military base and give a speech on US engagement in the region.
She then travels to Vietnam.
bbr / dpa
