Thailand opened a new consulate general in Chengdu, capital of
southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to sources with
Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office Monday.
Approved by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal
Thai consular office in Chengdu, set up in April 2005, was upgraded
to consulate general on May 17.
As the sixth Thai consular organizations in China, the consulate
general in Chengdu covers Sichuan Province and Chongqing
Municipality.
Though Thailand has set up a consulate general in Kunming,
capital of the neighboring Yunnan Province, in the early 1990s, it
is necessary to set up a consulate general in Chengdu due to the
increasing exchanges between Thailand and Sichuan in economy,
culture and tourism, said Wang Shaochuan, assistant to the Consul
General.
As an important powerhouse in southwest China, Sichuan Province
has attracted many countries to establish consulates in its capital
city.
Besides Thailand, the US, Germany, South Korea and France have
opened consulates in Chengdu. A consulate of Singapore is also
under plan.
(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2006)
