On September 3rd, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners adopted the resolution directing the Mayor to develop a plan to establish a Chinese Consulate-General in Miami, by a 12-0 vote. Currently, the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston covers Florida as part of its consular jurisdiction. A Chinese Consulate-General located in Miami-Dade County would not only alleviate the significant burden on local residents to obtain visas to visit China, but also promote greater Chinese investments in South Florida, and tourism and trade relationships.
The opening of a Chinese Consulate-General compliments the expansion of the Panama Canal and increases Miami’s economic prominence in the southeastern region of the U.S. The passing of this resolution, combined with Commissioner Zapata’s initiative to establish a sister city partnership between Miami-Dade County and Guangzhou, China, signals Miami’s desire to advance commercial and cultural exchange with China.