The United States opened its sixth consulate general on Chinese territory in Wuhan, capital of the central Hubei Province on Thursday.

The new consulate, in Hankou, will cover Hubei and the neighboring Hunan, Henan and Jiangxi provinces.

At this stage, its functions are restricted to providing emergency services to American citizens, as well as promoting American exports to in the areas.

The consulate general also wants to advance commercial and economic contacts and exchanges between American cities and counterparts in central China.

Wendy P. Lyle, a Chinese American citizen of Taiwan origin, was appointed as its first consul general.

So far, no visas have been issued.

Clark T. Randt, Jr., Ambassador of the United States to China, attended the opening ceremony

In accordance with an agreement signed between the United States and China in 1981, the U.S. could establish consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Chengdu and Wuhan. China can set up consulates in the American cities of San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Houston and Honolulu.

The United States placed consulates in Hong Kong and four other Chinese cities before 1985.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2008)