Interview: Houston seeks to enhance cooperation with China: mayor

by Liu Liwei

HOUSTON, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner said on Wednesday that the purposes of his coming visit to China is to strengthen existing positive relationships and explore opportunities for further cooperation in trade and investment.

In a written interview with Xinhua, Turner said the purposes and expectations of his visit to China "are to strengthen our existing positive relationships with Chinese business and government sectors as China continues to be our second largest trading partner."

The mayor is leading a large delegation of business executives and other Houston leaders to China on Dec. 2. It will be the first time for him to head an official delegation to China since taking office in 2015.

During the eight-day Houston Trade and Investment Mission tour in China, the delegation will visit the capital city of Beijing and Shanghai, a global financial center and transport hub with the world's busiest container port, and Shenzhen, the sister city of Houston since 1986.

The trade mission includes officials with the economic development advocacy group Greater Houston Partnership and chambers of commerce representatives.

Turner said that the delegation will meet with high-level government officials, business leaders and industry counterparts to "explore specific business agreements with Chinese businesses, refresh our relationship with Shenzhen as sister cities and inform the people of China about the many opportunities and cultural attractions that Houston offers to visitors."

Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the fourth-most populous city in the United States.

As Houston's second largest international trade partner, China shares extensive business, trade and cultural ties with the Houston region. Total annual trade between Houston and China has seen strong and sustained growth in the first half of the decade, more than doubling to 18.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2016 from 9.1 billion dollars in 2010, according to the Houston Mayor's Office.

The mayor said the progress has been marvelous as shown by the figure that China spends on import-export business with Houston.

Houston is home to a thriving business economy that has rapidly diversified from its strong energy base. This economic diversification includes growth in high-technology industries, medical research, health care and professional services.

A study released by the consulting firm Rhodium Group last year showed that Chinese companies had invested 7.4 billion U.S. dollars in Texas over 15 years, much of it in Houston. Predictably, most of the Chinese investments in Texas were in the oil and gas industry.

As the head of the energy capital of the world and the most diverse city, Turner said, "We want Chinese companies to understand that Houston is full of opportunities and also is a culturally diverse and accepting community."

He pointed out that there is a tremendous variety of areas ripe for further cooperation, from business deals in technology, energy, chemicals, healthcare, industrial manufacturing, and agriculture to education exchanges, cultural exchanges and mutual cultural enrichment.

Also taking part in the Houston delegation are leaders of community colleges. Turner said "Houston and China have a lot to teach other about work skills, and we will work to carry this out on a very tangible level."

"Houston is a city of people from all over the world. One in every four residents was born in another nation. We are natural place to develop further exchanges in sports and culture and we are proud to have been the place where Yao was a pioneer," he said.

Basketball star Yao Ming, 37, was born in Shanghai and was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2002. In July 2011, he retired due to injuries but not before leading the Rockets to many playoff games and victories.

In 2016, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and his number 11 jersey was retired by the Rockets. He is now the president of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Turner said "I am glad we have Yao Ming as our honorary global ambassador to help us promote our city."

Houston also is home to many businesses including corporate headquarters for almost two dozen of the Fortune 500 companies. In addition, many foreign countries and corporations have established a presence in Houston to access North American markets.

Houston offers a wide range of incentive programs to encourage business and industry to choose Houston when making expansion or relocation decisions.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (USA) in October opened a business center in Houston, the first one of a Chinese bank in the southern United States, which will serve Houston, as well as other places across the southern United States.

Turner said at the opening event that the ICBC serves to connect the Texas market with China and increase cooperation between Houston and Chinese financial institutions.

Houston has not evolved into the largest city in the south region of the United States by accident. Known as the Bayou City for its waterway system, Houston thrives because it is a great place to work and live.

Mayor Turner is a life-long resident of Houston. Prior to his election as mayor, Turner served for 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives. Now he is also a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Transportation and Communications Standing Committee, vice chair of the National Climate Action Agenda, member of the C40 and Global Covenant for Mayor's for Climate and Energy.

Under the leadership of Mayor Turner, Houston has been recovering from Hurricane Harvey, which blew ashore on Aug. 25 as the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years, displacing tens of thousands and damaging some 200,000 houses in a path of destruction that stretched for more than 480 km. The Houston area was hit by severe flooding, after receiving heavy rain.

Answering the question about how China can participate in rebuilding Houston after Harvey, Mayor Turner said "Investment and other forms of financial support, as well as good wishes and friendship, would play a positive role in our recovery." Enditem