Visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing Wednesday inaugurated the
new consulate of the Chinese embassy in Paris.
Li said at the inauguration ceremony that the well-equipped new
consulate will help better protect and serve the rights of Chinese
citizens and overseas Chinese, and contribute to the friendly
exchanges between the Chinese and French people.
He believed that the Sino-French relations will have a more
beautiful future, and that the Chinese embassy in France as well as
the consulates there will be more effective in their work and
better serve the Chinese nationals in France.
The new Chinese consulate in Paris, covering an area of more
than 5,000 square meters, is located near the famous Avenue des
Champs-Elysees.
Most overseas Chinese who attended the inauguration ceremony
were excited to see the new luminous and spacious visa hall, saying
the new consulate is commensurate with China's international status
and the Sino-French relations.
Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinjun said the launch of the new
consulate is expected to significantly improve visa issuance and
other consular work.
He added that last year 700,000 French visitors traveled to
China and the number of Chinese visas issued to French citizens
increased by 30 percent, which in a way reflected the booming
Sino-French relations.
(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)
