Sri Lanka opens consulate in SW China

The consulate of Sri Lanka opened in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Tuesday.

"Chengdu is the hub of western China," said Karunatilaka Amunugama, the Sri Lanka Ambassador to China. "Opening consulate here is important to deepen cooperation between Sri Lanka and the western areas of China."

Sichuan saw a rise of trade with Sri Lanka over the years. In 2008, export of Sichuan to Sri Lanka hit 14.27 million U.S. dollars. The exported goods included television, textile, engine and parts of automobile, while Sichuan bought minerals and steel from Sri Lanka.

Covering 65,610 square kilometers with its population of 19.9 million, Sri Lanka is famous for its precious stones and tea.

After Shanghai and Guangzhou, Sichuan has the third most foreign consulates in China, including the consulates of United States, Germany, France, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka.