The event, to celebrate His Majesty the King's 60th Anniversary on the throne as well as his 80th birthday next year, is scheduled from November 30 to January 30, 2007.

Director-General of the Department of Agriculture Adisak Sreesunpagit said that the ministry would take 30 diplomats and country representatives to visit the event site at Chiang Mai's Royal Agricultural Research Centre from today until Thursday.

Adisak said they would be able to see and learn about the host country's preparations, the format of the event and the activities planned.

After that, on May 1, spaces would be allotted to the participating countries to set up their displays.

Adisak said the diplomatic visit was being done in accordance with procedures regulated by the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) and the International Association of Horticultural Producers to make this event an "A1" international exhibition - enabling it to obtain BIE and AIPH support, and the foreign governments' full support throughout the 90 days of the exhibition.

"We are already 75 per cent complete and the diplomat's visit will make the 30 participating countries confident that Thailand is ready to host this great event," Adisak said.

The selection of members for committees to judge gardening contests, as well as arrange exhibitions and seminars, is in progress, he said.