Senior officials in China and Thailand exchanged notes Friday, agreeing that Thailand will open a consulate office in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra were present at the ceremony.

The new Thai consulate office is the third of its kind in addition to another two in Chengdu of Sichuan Province in southwestern China and Xiamen of east China's Fujian Province.

An official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the opening of the diplomatic mission is aimed at facilitating visa processes for citizens of both countries and boosting bilateral cooperation in investment and tourism, especially cooperation between Thailand and China's west and northwest region.

In addition to the Thai Embassy in Beijing, Thailand also has four consulate-generals respectively in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming and Hong Kong.

Source: Xinhua