Japanese consulate general inaugurated in SW China's Chongqing

Japanese consulate general was inaugurated Monday in Chongqing municipality, the industrial hub of Southwest China.

As the fourth Japanese consulate organization in the Chinese mainland, the Japanese consulate general in Chongqing covers Chongqing and three Southwestern provinces, namely Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, according to Consul General Tomita Masahiro.

"We set up this consulate general to promote Japan's cooperation with Southwest China," said Tomita.

Chongqing, rich in gas and emerging as the manufacturing hub of automobiles and motorcycles, has been an attraction to Japanese investment. Japanese automobile manufacturers started to enter in the city since mid-1990s and there have been 97 Japanese firms in the city so far.

"It is important for Japan to strengthen economic cooperation with China," said Japanese Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Aisawa Ichiro, adding the consulate general will support Japanese investment in Southwest China, especially in the Three Gorges project.