The just-wrapped trade mission to China by a Houston delegation is bound to promote closer trade ties and investment between the two economies, the mission's coordinator has told Xinhua.

To celebrate the launch of the non-stop flight between Houston and Beijing, the 27-member Houston delegation, consisting of Houston's chief development officer, the president and chief officer of the Greater Houston Partnership, director of the Houston Airport System and other prominent Houston business leaders, went on a trade mission to Beijing and Shanghai and brought home contracts and job opportunities, said Genaro Pena, vice president of international investment and trade with the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), which has helped coordinate the visit.

"The (July 19-27) mission celebrates Air China's new non-stop flight between Houston and Beijing, promotes the development of trade and investment between our two economies, and provides positive exchanges with local governments and business leaders," he said.

The non-stop flight, which began July 11, is expected to assist more than 840 Houston companies with business ties with China and to have an economic impact of nearly 150 million U.S. dollars on the Houston economy alone, Pena said.

"In the last 10 years, Houston has emerged as a leading global business center and is attracting more Chinese companies for trade and investment purposes," he said. "Houston is the top manufacturing city and leading export metro in the United States, and we are excited that Air China has chosen Houston as its new U. S. route."

Pena said the new route not only connects China with the U.S. fourth largest city, but also serves as a connector for Chinese businesses and travelers to other leading U.S. cities.

The mission's objectives, Pena said, were to meet with Air China and Chinese aviation authorities, promote the Houston region and business community to key Chinese government leaders, companies and businesses organizations, and meet with potential business and export partners. The mission also sought to Greater Houston Partnership as a one-stop shop for Chinese investors into the Houston region.

"Our delegation has visited Beijing and Shanghai, and we have had positive discussions with business leaders interested in either establishing stronger ties with Houston or expanding already existing operations," Pena said.

More than 830 Houston companies are doing business with China, including 551 firms either headquartered or with local branches in the Houston region that operates 3,032 subsidiary locations throughout China, Pena said.

"Annual trade between Houston and China totaled 12.9 billion ( dollars) in 2012," Pena said. "Total trade between Houston and China has grown by more than 11.3 billion (dollars) since 2000, representing a compound annual growth rate of 19.45 percent."

"Houston enjoys strong ties with China, one of our top five trading partners in the world," Pena said, "and the new air service will help Houston and China capitalize on each other's markets ... We believe it will be a great success and Air China has expressed great confidence in Houston as its newest U.S. gateway." Endi

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