The Kingdom of Thailand on Tuesday opened a consular office in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

 

Thailand is the first country to establish a diplomatic institution in the landlocked province.

 

The office will provide visa service to Chinese applicants in Shaanxi Province and adjacent Gansu Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The formalities for visa issuance can be finished within two workdays, according to official with the office.

 

Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Sawanit Kongsiri said at the opening ceremony of the office that his country set up the office in order to promote economic, trade, tourist, educational and cultural cooperation with northwestern region of China, in particular with Shaanxi.

 

Acting Governor of Shaanxi Yuan Chunqing and Acting Mayor of Xi'an Chen Baogen attended the opening ceremony of the Royal Thai consular office.

 

Statistics show that 62 Thai enterprises are investing in Shaanxi, with a total contractual value of US$170 million. The imports and exports trade volume between Thailand and Shaanxi accumulated to US$48.54 million in the first ten months of this year, an increase by 41 percent over the same period of last year.

 

The two sides now have cooperation mainly in construction, growing and processing of agricultural products. Shaanxi's major exported products to Thailand include TV kinescopes, TV parts, fruits, minerals, chemicals and textiles.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2006)