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)