Philippines to Open New Style Consular Office in Xiamen

The Philippine government will open a new consular office in China with an exterior inspired by Philippine architecture.

According to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), a three-story building in Xiamen, China, will be renovated, featuring capizi-style lattice windows, limestone walls and wooden railings to reflect the Filipino identity.

At the same time, the main hall of the building will be transformed into a larger upgraded facility to enable the Philippine Consulate to improve their services, including visa processing for clients in Jiangxi and Fujian.

These developments were made possible by the signing of a five-year contract by Philippine Consul General in Xiamen, Obrena, to establish a new judiciary. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the new mansion will be the largest villa in Xiamen's consular district, with a total area of 1670 square meters, and will be opened in January 2024. Its architectural design will be carried out by Xiamen-based Filipino architect Tecson Uy.

Obrena thanked the Foreign Affairs Office and Jinyuan Group for their assistance in the relocation of the Philippine government's new Xiamen museum.

The Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen has been in the same building for 28 years since it opened in 1995.

Xiamen remains a strategic location for the Philippines as most Filipino Chinese have their roots in Fujian province. Some of the largest Philippine investments in Xiamen include: SM, Robinson and Eaton, among others.