France is planning to establish a consulate general in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province.

"France is applying itself to develop harmonious and intense relationship with Sichuan province and other provinces in western China," said French Ambassador to China Philippe Guelluy Thursday while attending the sixth Western China International Economy and Trade Fair, which opened Wednesday.

The establishment of the consulate general will help strengthen exchanges between France and western China and facilitate communications between France and Sichuan in such fields as economy, trade, culture, education and science, said Guelluy.

According to statistics, the trade between Sichuan and France hit 200 million US dollars in 2004, with export amounting to 150 million dollars. By the end of 2004, Sichuan was the site of 56 French-invested projects, which involved a total contractual foreign capital of 279 million dollars.

Source: Xinhua