China orders US to close consulate in Chengdu

"On the morning of 24 July, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China informed the US Embassy in China of its decision to withdraw its consent for the establishment and operation of the US Consulate General in Chengdu," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The Ministry also made specific requirements on the ceasing of all operations and events by the Consulate General," it said.

China made the move just days after the US directed Beijing to close its consulate in Houston.

"On 21 July, the US launched a unilateral provocation by abruptly demanding that China close its Consulate General in Houston. The US move seriously breached international law, the basic norms of international relations, and the terms of the China-US Consular Convention," the Chinese ministry said on the issue.

China said the incident 'gravely harmed China-US relations'.

"The measure taken by China is a legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the US. It conforms with international law, the basic norms of international relations, and customary diplomatic practices," the ministry said.

"The current situation in China-US relations is not what China desires to see, and the US is responsible for all this. We once again urge the US to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track," it said.