Trump’s visit was boost to business: envoy

The consul general of China in Houston sees many economic benefits resulting from the recent trip to China by US President Donald Trump.

Consul General Li Qiangmin spoke of the opportunities redounding to the southern United States by a more prosperous China and a stable China-US relationship.

“At least three among the 29 companies (that) headed to China with President Trump are from Texas,” Li told the luncheon guests, who included state Representative Gene Wu, Houston City Council Member Greg Travis, Greater Houston Partnership CEO Bob Harvey, businessman Neil Bush, US China Partnership Chairman Charles Foster, diplomats from the consulate corps of Houston, and other prominent business and community leaders.

Cheniere Energy, based in Houston, is the owner of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in the US. It signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China National Petroleum Corp for long-term LNG sales and purchase cooperation.

Bell Helicopter signed an agreement with Reignwood International Investment Group Co to sell an additional 50 Bell 505s helicopters to China.

Li said that high-level exchanges are frequent among Southern states and China. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will visit China soon. The mayors of Austin and Dallas have recently visited China.

“Governor (Asa) Hutchinson of Arkansas has visited China three times since he took office. He said to me that he will visit China every year during his term. He has already got great rewards. Several Chinese companies have invested or declared to invest more than $1.4 billion investment, with 1,500 jobs in Arkansas since 2015,” Li said.

“It makes perfect sense for American companies to work with Chinese companies. There is a lot of money to be made on both sides. It’s a win-win situation,” Jon Taylor, professor of political science at University of St. Thomas, said of Trump’s visit to China. “A lot of economic agreements made will really pay off in five years or so.”

Bush expressed his wish for strong ties between the US and China: “My father (former US president George H.W. Bush) has always maintained that the US-China relationship is the most important relationship in the world.”