A Chinese consulate is a diplomatic mission that represents the interests of the Chinese government in a foreign country. Consulates are responsible for providing services to Chinese citizens living or traveling abroad, promoting trade and cultural exchanges, and issuing visas to foreign nationals who wish to visit China. Chinese consulates are located in various cities around the world, including the United States. The Consular District of the Chinese Consulate General in New York, for example, consists of 10 states: New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island. The Chinese consulate is an important diplomatic institution that helps to maintain relations between China and other countries.