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China: Fr
manufacturing sectors, accelerate opening in such ar-
eas as telecommunications, education, medical service
and culture. That means more opportunities for China
and Houston to strengthen economic and trade ties,
as Houston is so privileged for its goods and service
industries. There are still lots of potentials to be tapped.
Cooperation regarding science and technology has
been strengthened. In May, the 2018 U.S.—China In-
novation and Investment Summit was held in Houston.
During the summit, Houston and Suzhou, a Chinese
city famous for both traditional Chinese culture and
technological innovation, signed a memorandum to
strengthen their economic and technological partner-
ship. In November, the 2018 Final InnoStar Competi-
tion took place in Suzhou. Two Houston enterprises
have won the Award of Best Business Model and the
2nd prize respectively. Openness and exchanges lead
to advance of science and technology. Both China and
Houston will benefit from scientific and technological
exchanges and cooperation.
People-to-people, culture and education exchanges
have been boosted. Air China has operated five non-
stop flights per week between Houston and Beijing,
and extended the flight via Houston to the Panama
City. An estimated 100,000 travelers from China vis-
ited Houston last year, a city marked by its economic
vitality, cultural diversity and inclusiveness. An aver-
age of $5,000 individual consumption per trip is an-
ticipated. In April, an art troupe of disabled Chinese
performed in Houston and was greatly received by
the Houston audience. In June, the “2018 Experience
China --Cultural Exploration of West China in the
United States” showcased the natural beauty, historical
sites and places of interest, social and economic devel-
opment of west China to Houstonians. In October,
dancers from Shanghai and Houston Dance of Asian
America presented a joint performance “Splendid
China XIII” at Miller Outdoor Theater. And what’s
more, Houston has attracted an increasing number of
Chinese students to pursue further academic stud-
ies. In fall 2018, more than 2000 Chinese students
were enrolled at Rice University and the University
of Houston. The increasing people-to-people, culture
and education exchanges will inject more positive
momentum into the practical cooperation between
Houston and China.
In about one-month time, China and U.S. will cel-
ebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations. Despite twists and turns, China-
U.S. relationship has kept an overall development over
the years. The two sides have been conducting co-
operation in various bilateral areas, maintaining close
communication and coordination to tackle regional
and international issues. Time has witnessed and will
always prove that a sound and steady development of
China-U.S. relations serves the fundamental interests
of our two peoples, and meets the expectation of the
international community. It is natural that differences
do exist, and frictions may occur from time to time,
but the key is to handle them in a constructive way
and let the common interests outweigh the contra-
dictions. Building a relationship featuring non-con-
flict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win
cooperation really keeps abreast with the times, and
should deserve the two sides’ longstanding endeavor.
President Xi and President Trump will meet with each
other during the G20 Summit this week in Argen-
tina. I believe the two presidents’ meeting will set the
course of future China-U.S. relationship and it will
promote mutual understanding when the China-U.S.
relationship is at an important juncture.
Mayor Turner’s first visit to China has a huge pro-
found influence for the
future cooperation be-
tween Houston and Chi-
na. Let the “golden mo-
ment” bear more concrete
“golden fruits”for our
two peoples.
by LI Qiangmin, Ambas-
sador and Consul General
of the People’s Republic of
China in Houston
iF Magazine | www.iFMagazine.net
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