Thailand opened a new consulate general in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to sources with Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office on 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, itis 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 United States, Germany, the Republic of Korea and France have opened consulates in Chengdu. A consulate of Singapore is also under plan.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2006)