The dedication ceremony of the new U.S. Consulate-General in Wuhan took place on March 28. U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, Mayor Cheng Yongwen of Wuhan City, Director-General Zhang Xiaomei of Hubei FAO, Acting Consul-General ForestYang, and representatives of Hunan, Henan, and Jiangxi provinces attended the ceremony.

Ribbon cutting ceremony

Ambassador Burns expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and competent authorities in Wuhan and Hubei for their support and coordination. He emphasized that China is an important trading partner for the United States, and Wuhan, located in central China, is a regional hub for commerce, transportation, education, and culture. The new Consulate-General is expected to provide 200,000 visas for Chinese citizens each year, facilitating personnel exchanges between the United States and the central region of China.

Director-General Zhang Xiaomei congratulated on the inauguration of the new facility. She stated that with the commencement of visa services, it will serve as a new bridge to enhance the understanding and friendship between the peoples of both nations and provide more convenience for Hubei Province and the central region in their exchanges with the United States. As this year marks the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic ties, she underscored the importance of intensifying local exchanges, broadening pragmatic cooperation, promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and pooling strength for people-to-people friendship, so as to inject new impetus into the sustained development of bilateral relations.

Officials and representatives from relevant departments, enterprises, and universities in Hubei, Hunan, Henan, and Jiangxi provinces, the France, ROK, and UK Consulates-General, and JETRO, attended the event.