Los Angeles Consular Corps
Encyclopedia
The Los Angeles Consular Corps is an informal organization representative of the over 100 consulates located in Los Angeles, California
. There is also a List of Los Angeles consulates.
Los Angeles has the third largest consular community in the world, after New York City
and Hong Kong
. However, Hong Kong's consulates are treated as embassies due to the unique semi-autonomous political status of Hong Kong S.A.R. (for example, the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong reports directly to Washington, and not to Beijing), and New York City is home to the United Nations
, which means that every country has a formal presence in New York. Therefore, Los Angeles is particularly unique because it is neither a national capital (or even a state capital), nor headquarters for a major international organization such as the UN, nor a major financial center (such as Sydney, Shanghai, and Frankfurt) and still has attracted over one hundred foreign consulates. It is clear that among "normal" cities, Los Angeles has the largest consular community in the world.
Generally, the consulates in Los Angeles have jurisdiction over the regions of Southern California
, while some serve the entire state of California
, and other parts of the Western United States
.
, in the major state of California, and at the crossroads of both Asia
and Latin America
. Its location on the Pacific Rim makes it an obvious choice for most countries to locate its consulate. Also, Los Angeles boasts one of the busiest major airports in the world: LAX, also the Port of Los Angeles
is the largest maritime port in the United States, and North America, and is the 4th largest in the world. Los Angeles is the largest city in California, and the second largest in the U.S., and is the world's capital for entertainment. Many factors make Los Angeles an important place on the global stage. The Los Angeles customs district is the largest in the U.S. in terms of international trade capital and volume.
In demographic terms, Los Angeles is arguably the most ethnically diverse region in the world. With nearly 300 languages spoken, and the largest communities of Koreans, Armenians, Persians, Filipinos, Taiwanese, Guatemalans, Mexicans, and Canadians outside their respective countries of origin, L.A. is a cosmopolitan and international melting pot.
The 79th Ball was held in November 2007 at the Intercontinental Hotel in west Los Angeles, and was sponsored by Delta Air Lines
, Sunrider
International, and the Los Angeles County Office of Protocol.
Additionally, the Los Angeles Consular Corps includes foreign trade missions, foreign commercial offices:
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. There is also a List of Los Angeles consulates.
Los Angeles has the third largest consular community in the world, after New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. However, Hong Kong's consulates are treated as embassies due to the unique semi-autonomous political status of Hong Kong S.A.R. (for example, the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong reports directly to Washington, and not to Beijing), and New York City is home to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, which means that every country has a formal presence in New York. Therefore, Los Angeles is particularly unique because it is neither a national capital (or even a state capital), nor headquarters for a major international organization such as the UN, nor a major financial center (such as Sydney, Shanghai, and Frankfurt) and still has attracted over one hundred foreign consulates. It is clear that among "normal" cities, Los Angeles has the largest consular community in the world.
Generally, the consulates in Los Angeles have jurisdiction over the regions of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, while some serve the entire state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and other parts of the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
.
Los Angeles as a globally strategic location
Los Angeles offers an important and strategic location: being inside the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in the major state of California, and at the crossroads of both Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. Its location on the Pacific Rim makes it an obvious choice for most countries to locate its consulate. Also, Los Angeles boasts one of the busiest major airports in the world: LAX, also the Port of Los Angeles
Port of Los Angeles
The Port of Los Angeles, also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT L.A, is a port complex that occupies of land and water along of waterfront. The port is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately south of downtown...
is the largest maritime port in the United States, and North America, and is the 4th largest in the world. Los Angeles is the largest city in California, and the second largest in the U.S., and is the world's capital for entertainment. Many factors make Los Angeles an important place on the global stage. The Los Angeles customs district is the largest in the U.S. in terms of international trade capital and volume.
In demographic terms, Los Angeles is arguably the most ethnically diverse region in the world. With nearly 300 languages spoken, and the largest communities of Koreans, Armenians, Persians, Filipinos, Taiwanese, Guatemalans, Mexicans, and Canadians outside their respective countries of origin, L.A. is a cosmopolitan and international melting pot.
Location of Consulates
The majority of the said consulates in Los Angeles are located in the Wilshire area, West L.A., and Beverly Hills.Government Relationships
The government offices responsible for dealing with the foreign consulates in Los Angeles are:- the Los Angeles County Office of Protocol
- the City of Los Angeles Office of Protocol, in Mayor Antonio VillaraigosaAntonio VillaraigosaAntonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
's office. - International Trade Office, Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles
- the International Protocol Office of Governor Schwarzenegger
- The U.S. Department of State office in Los Angeles (11000 Wilshire Blvd.)
- Orange County Office of Protocol
Consular Corps Ball
Each year the Corps sponsors a Ball held in Los Angeles dedicated to the promotion of the community, and a networking event for international visitors and foreign diplomats.The 79th Ball was held in November 2007 at the Intercontinental Hotel in west Los Angeles, and was sponsored by Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, Sunrider
Sunrider
Sunrider Corporation, or Sunrider International, is a privately owned direct sales company with thousands of franchise stores worldwide, the stated goal of which is "to bring wealth and health to people all over the world". Its headquarters are in Torrance, California. Sunrider manufactures...
International, and the Los Angeles County Office of Protocol.
Members of the Los Angeles Consular Corps include consulates from the following countries
- BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
- CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
- MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
- SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Additionally, the Los Angeles Consular Corps includes foreign trade missions, foreign commercial offices:
- The Catalonian Trade Office of Los Angeles
- The Brazilian Chamber of Commerce of California
- The Trade Council of Spain
- The Danish Business Council