Fuzhou city has reached out to Indonesia and Timor Leste for the purpose of landing foreign consulates from the two counties, according to Mayor Yang Yimin on Jan 13.

Fuzhou boasted 17 foreign consulates at one point during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 AD). As an open-minded city today, it hopes to return to its prime in foreign exchange.

“We will step up efforts in bringing foreign consulates. Currently we are negotiating the matter with Indonesia and Timor Leste,” said Yang at a group discussion of an annual session of the local political advisory body on Jan 13.

He revealed that leaders of overseas Chinese coalitions will align with Fuzhou in the campaign in the future.

Fuzhou is “definitely” suitable for the establishment of foreign consulates, according to Ye Xiaoping, director of the friendship-city office of the city’s Foreign Affairs Office.

Foreign consulates normally are located in economically developed cities with a beautiful environment. And Fuzhou was just recently included in the nation’s free trade zone list, which means it will further open up to the world and invite more foreign consulates to settle in, he explained.

On why Fuzhou chose Indonesia and Timor Leste as the first two targeted countries, Ye said that a large portion of 15.8 million overseas Chinese are living in Indonesia. In addition, Fujian province has increased fishery cooperation with Indonesia and Timor Leste in recent years, which has formed a solid foundation for their friendship.