The Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in Edinburgh was officially launched on 21st September 2012 in the Exchange Tower in Edinburgh City. The Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh Mr. Li Ruiyou, General Manager of the Bank of China Limited London Branch Mr. Fang Wenjian, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Qiandaifu Information Technology Corporation Ltd. Mr. Ji Wenbin and about 40 representatives and guests from Scottish Government, Scotland-China Association, Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland-China Education Network and the Chinese community in Edinburgh attended the opening ceremony.

Consul General Li Ruiyou congratulates on the launch of CVASC in Edinburgh). He said that the rapid development of China-UK and China-Scotland relationships in recent years has increased the demand for Chinese visas and the Chinese Embassy in London and the Consulates in Manchester and Edinburgh have been hard put to cope with an ever expanding workload of visa affairs and shortage of office space. Drawing on the practice of some other countries, the Chinese Embassy in London and the Consulate in Manchester introduced a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre respectively and successively in 2008 and in 2009. Following the successful practice in London and Manchester, the Consulate in Edinburgh decided to follow suit, and outsourced part of the visa application service to the China Bridge (UK) Ltd.

He expressed his confidence that with the experience of successfully running CVASCs in London and Manchester, CVASC in Edinburgh will provide professional service to the visa applicants.

General Manager Fang Wenjian in his remarks reassured the support from Bank of China Limited London Branch which is the parent company of China Bridge Group (UK) Ltd. that runs CVASC. He also expressed his hope that CVASC will continue improving the management of the Centre in order to provide a more satisfactory service.

Chairman of Scotland-China Association Mrs. Janice praised the rapid development of Scotland China relationship and delivered her best wishes to a successful CVASC in Edinburgh.

CVASC in Edinburgh is located in Edinburgh City Centre with an office area of 200 square metres. It will be open to business from 24th September.

(For more information on CVASC and visa application, please visit http://www.visaforchina.org)