Dade commissioner Juan Zapata has introduced a resolution directing County staff to develop a plan to establish a Chinese Consulate-General in Miami.

Zapata’s resolution cites ‘significant burden and hardship on Miami-Dade County residents to obtain a visa’, which is required for U.S. citizens to visit China.

China has requested permission to add additional consulates in the U.S. but has been blocked by the feds. A congressional committee has directed the State Department to block any new Chinese consulates until the Chinese government permits a U.S. consulate in Lhasa, Tibet.