Embassy/Consulate Addresses | Foreign Relations | Travel Advisories | Travel Tips | Customs/Duties



EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic representation in US:
Chief of mission: Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
Embassy: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502

US diplomatic representation:
Chief of mission: Ambassador: Clark Randt
Embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
Mailing Address: PSC 461, Box 50, Beijing; FPO AP 96521-0002
Telephone: [86] (1) 5323831
Fax: [86] (1) 5323178

Consulate(s) General are in:
Los Angeles
443 Shatto Pl.,
Los Angeles, CA 90020.
(213) 380-3105 , FAX (213) 380-1961

San Francisco
1450 Laguna St.,
San Francisco, CA 94115.
(415) 563-4885

Chicago
100 W. Erie St.,
Chicago, IL 60610.
(312) 803-0095, FAX (312) 803-0105

New York
520 12th Av.,
New York, NY 10036.
(212) 330-7400

Houston
3417 Montrose Bl.,
Houston, TX 77006.
(713) 524-0780

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for China
U.S. Embassy in China
U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong
Embassy of China Web Site in Washington, D.C.


FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

The United States seeks to build a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive relationship with China by expanding areas of cooperation and addressing areas of disagreement, such as human rights. The United States welcomes a strong, peaceful, and prosperous China playing a greater role in world affairs and seeks to advance practical cooperation with China in order to build a partnership based on mutual benefit and mutual respect. The annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) has served as a unique platform to promote bilateral understanding, expand consensus, discuss differences, improve mutual trust, and increase cooperation. The strategic track of the S&ED has produced benefits for both countries through a wide range of joint projects and initiatives and expanded avenues for addressing common regional and global challenges such as proliferation concerns in Iran and North Korea, the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan, and climate change. The United States has emphasized the need to enhance bilateral trust through increased high-level exchanges, formal dialogues, and expanded people-to-people ties. The U.S. approach to China is an integral part of reinvigorated U.S. engagement with the Asia-Pacific.

U.S. Assistance to China

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and State’s assistance programs in China focus on four principal areas: assisting Tibetan communities; addressing the threat of HIV/AIDS and other pandemic diseases; advancing the rule of law and human rights; and supporting environmental protection and climate change mitigation efforts. U.S. assistance programs are targeted, scalable with Chinese resources, and directly address U.S. interests such as limiting the transmission of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and avian influenza that pose threats throughout the region and globally. Programs in Tibetan areas of China support activities that preserve the distinct Tibetan culture and promote sustainable development and environmental conservation in Tibetan communities through grants to U.S. organizations.

Bilateral Economic Relations

The U.S. approach to its economic relations with China has two main elements: the United States seeks to fully integrate China into the global, rules-based economic and trading system and seeks to expand U.S. exporters' and investors' access to the Chinese market. Total two-way trade between China and the United States grew from $33 billion in 1992 to over $503 billion in goods in 2011. The United States is China's second-largest trading partner (after the European Union--EU), and China is the fourth-largest trading partner for the United States (after the EU, Canada, and Mexico). During the economic track of the May 2012 S&ED, the two countries announced measures to enhance macroeconomic cooperation, promote open trade and investment, enhance international rules and global economic governance, and foster financial market stability and reform. For information on the economic track, see http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/Pages/china.aspx.

China's Membership in International Organizations

The People's Republic of China assumed the China seat at the United Nations in 1971, replacing Taiwan, and is a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Over the years, China has become increasingly active in multilateral organizations in particular through the United Nations. China and the United States work closely with the international community to address threats to global security, including North Korea and Iran's nuclear programs.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to China is Gary Locke; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

China maintains an embassy in the United States at 3505 International Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008; Tel.: (202) 495-2266.

More information about China is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State China Country Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook China Page
U.S. Embassy: China
USAID China Page
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Library of Congress Country Studies
Travel and Business Information




TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for China check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving TBA
Currency (CNY) Yuan
Electrical 220 Volts
Telephones Country Code 86, City Code, Beijing 10+8D, Guangzhou 20+8D, Shanghai 21+8D, Tianjin 22+8D



The People’s Republic of China (PRC) was established on October 1, 1949, with Beijing as its capital city. It is the third largest country in terms of territory, bordering most Asian countries and Russia. China is undergoing rapid, profound economic and social growth and development. Political power remains centralized in the Chinese Communist Party.

The Chinese Government is subordinate to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); its role is to implement party policies. The primary branches of state power are the National People’s Congress (NPC), the President (the head of state), and the State Council. Under the Chinese constitution, the NPC is the highest branch of state power in China. When the NPC is not in session, its permanent organ, the Standing Committee, exercises state power.

The People
With well over one billion citizens, China is easily the world’s most populous country. The largest ethnic group is the Han Chinese, who constitute about 92% of the total population. The remaining 8% are Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uygur, Yi, Tibetan, Mongol, and Korean.

Language
There are several major Chinese dialects and many subdialects. The Beijing dialect, often called Mandarin (or Putonghua), is taught in all schools and is the medium of government. Almost two-thirds of Han Chinese are native speakers of Mandarin; the rest, concentrated in southwest and southeast China, speak one of the other major Chinese dialects.

How to Prepare for a Safe Trip
A little planning and knowledge will go a long way toward making your trip to the PRC go smoothly. Learning more about China and obeying the laws and respecting the customs will make your stay as pleasant and incident-free as possible.

Consular Information Sheets, Public Announcements & Travel Warnings

The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for providing assistance and information to U.S. citizens traveling abroad. Consular Affairs issues Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements. Consular Information Sheets are issued for every country in the world. They include such information as the location of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country, health conditions, political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties.

The State Department also issues Travel Warnings and Public Announcements. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries to which travel is not recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Consular Information Sheets. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other conditions overseas that pose significant risks to the security of American travelers.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Currency...Should be declared on arrival

Tobacco....400 cigarettes (600 cigarettes for stays over 6 months)

Liquor.....2 litres of alcoholic beverages

Perfume....easonable amount for personal use

Cameras....1 still camera

Film.......Reasonable for personal use

Agriculture items...Refer psgr to consulate

Gifts......No duty free allowance

Prohibited items....Arms and ammunition, radio transmitters/ receivers, exposed but undeveloped film.

Note: Baggage declaration forms must be completed upon arrival noting all valuables (cameras, watches, jewellery, etc.), a copy of which must be presented to customs upon leaving the country for checking.



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