China responds to Washington, closes Chengdu consulate

China ordered the closure of the US consulate in the large city of Chengdu in the southwest of the country on Friday, 3 days after the closure of the Chinese consulate in the American city of Houston.

China responds to Washington, closes Chengdu consulate
24 July, 2020   04:02
NEWS DESK

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that this decision constituted a "legitimate and necessary response to the irrational actions of the United States."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not mention a deadline to close the mission, while the administration of US President Donald Trump gave the Chinese consulate in Houston 72 hours to leave the Chinese diplomats, according to "AFP."

Besides its embassy in Beijing, the United States has 5 consulates in the cities of Canton, Shanghai, Xinjiang, Chengdu, and Wuha, as well as in Hong Kong.

The Chengdu Consulate, which was opened in 1985, covers southwest China, especially the Tibet Autonomous Region. It has 200 employees, including 150 local employees, according to its website.