CHANGSHA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Laos will establish a consulate general in central China's Changsha within the year, the first foreign consulate in Hunan Province, the provincial foreign and overseas Chinese affairs office said Thursday.

The consular district will include the provinces of Hunan, Hubei, Henan and Guizhou. The consulate will promote cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation in investment, trade and education between Laos and central China.

Since a regular flight between Vientiane and Changsha was launched in August 2015, Laos has become a popular investment and travel destination for Hunan. Currently more than 160 Hunan companies have invested in Laos.