New U.S. consulate general compound in China's Guangzhou starts construction

The United States broke ground on a new consulate general compound in southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou Monday, the traditional auspicious Double Ninth Festival in China.

U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman said it had a special meaning for them to choose the day to lay the cornerstone for the new compound prior to President Obama's China visit.

Huntsman noted that the Double Ninth Festival is the traditional Chinese festival which pays respect to senior citizens. The day of Sept. 9 of the Chinese lunar calendar means "long-standing" in Chinese.

"That is to say, we are able to take the U.S.-China relationship to higher ground and higher places," he said.

In Chinese, the pronunciation of "nine" is the same as the word for "eternity."

U.S. President Barack Obama will visit China in mid-November during a four-nation Asia trip from Nov. 12 to 19, which will also take him to Japan, Singapore and the Republic of Korea.

Huntsman said Obama will talk about global economy, climate changes, clean energy, regional security and other issues in China.

He said Obama used three words, "positive, collaborative and comprehensive" to specifically describe the U.S.-China relationship.

"The U.S.-China bilateral relationship is the most important relationship in the world," Huntsman said.

"The construction of a new consulate in Guangzhou will reflect not only the importance of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship, but also the breadth of issues in which our countries are engaged as this new century progresses," he said.

The new consulate compound at the Central Business District of Guangzhou will cover three hectares and consist of seven buildings, including a four-story main chancery, an adjacent four-story Consular office building, a Marine security guard quarters, a warehouse with maintenance shops, a utility building, and two compound access control structures, consulate officials said.

The construction on the compound is expected to be completed in2013, with a planned cost of 260 million U.S. dollars. Approximately 300 employees will work at the new consulate.

The U.S. consulate general in Guangzhou serves in southern China, including the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian and Hainan as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Source: Xinhua