London, Nov. 13, 2008 -- Supreme Council member and Ruler of Sharjah, H. H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, visited here Wednesday the Royal Botanic Gardens, the third most popular of its kind in the world. The Gardens house botanic collections (conserved plants, living plants and documents) that have been enriched over 2 and half centuries.

Sheikh Sultan signed a cooperation agreement with the Royal Botanic Garden as part of Sharjah's commitment to the environment, its policy of plant conservation and the opening of a Plant Science Institute as part of Sharjah's academic institutes of scientific research. Steven Hooper, the Royal Botanic Gardens Director, signed the agreement for his side.

The agreement, among other things, will allow the sharing of experience and exchange of researchers in joint cooperation in scientific researches of mutual interest.

Sheikh Sultan expressed great admiration of the gardens and praised the Royal Botanic Gardens for its role in protecting botanic environment.(WAM/SA)