China Daily Global Edition (USA)
ZTE, Houston Rockets partner in charity, business
More than 70 children from Houston-area charity organizations, including the Chinese Community Center, enjoyed a night of food, gifts, playing with the NBA Houston Rockets mascot Clutch and watching a play with Rockets players at the Toyota Center on Monday night.
Continuing their holiday charity tradition Season of Giving into its fourth year, ZTE USA and the Houston Rockets brought the children holiday cheer, high-fiving Clutch and taking selfies with him.
Rockets players Trevor Ariza, Tyler Ennis and Nenê, welcomed the children to the temporary “theater” after eating to enjoy a live play, The Adventures of Sana Claus, presented by Express Children’s Theatre.
The play is adapted from the classic novel by Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It mixes classic Christmas songs and legends to explore the themes of generosity, hard work and goodwill toward all. The kids seemed captivated by the performance.
ZTE USA CEO Cheng Lixin and Rockets CEO Tad Brown also joined the festivities, serving food and watching the show with the kids.
Both CEOs expressed satisfaction with their four-year partnership.
“We have had the opportunity to grow our relationship over the years,” said Brown. “We not only focus on how to help people here in Houston, but also work on how to make our organizations better from the stand point of marketing. We feel the association with ZTE is very beneficial to our organization.”
Cheng said that ZTE and HoustonA dialogue Rockets between sharethe Communist the same aspirationsParty of Chinaof winningand the and Kuomintangserving the will community.be held in Beijing“The Rocketson Friday, haveAn Fengshan,a tradition of spokesmanvaluing the for the ChineseTaiwan culture Affairsand relationshipOffice of the State since they Council, first said signedon Tuesday.Yao Ming,An the added first that Chinesethe exchangeNBA player,”will Chengfocus on said. relations “During betweenthe four years,the two we partiesare and growing crossour brand Straits awarenessties, aiming in to the promotelocal community.exchanges, cooperation,We are No. 3 in crossUS androidStraits stability market and share.” the peaceful According developmentto of Cheng, crossZTE now Straits enjoys relations.36 percent brand awareness in the nation.
“ZTE has the largest increase in brand awareness since the time we began to measure our partnership,Eleven crewmembersmore than are any other missing businessafter their relationshipfishing boatwe have,” collided Brown with a said. merchant ship and He capsizedsaid that off nowthe east the coast vast majorityof China of early Rocketson Tuesday,fans know exactlylocal authoritieswhat ZTE said.is and The whatincident they do. took place in waters off ZhangzhouWhen ZTE at was about planning12:15 am, to expandthe city’s the maritime market search awarenessand in rescuea strategic center way, said. theyAll 14 used fishermen the Rockets aboardas a model.the fishing Now boat ZTE sponsorsfell overboard.a total Threeof five were NBArescued, teams butin the the US. others remain missing.“It helpedThe cause themof the acrossincident the borderis being and investigated.how they are viewed in the US,” said Brown, who also mentioned that a big party is in planning for retiring Yao Ming’s No. 11 jersey. Anewround“On Feb 3 thereof joint will patrolsbe a big ceremony involvingChina,to retire Laos, Yao’s Myanmar jersey. It’s goingand Thailandto be an were incredible experience.launched on It theMekongwill be a globalRiver celebration,”on Tuesday. Sevensaid Brown.ships with 190 “It lawenforcementwill be an officers incredible set sail media from event Guanlei that Port capturesand worldwidewill travel over attention,”500 kilometers. said Brown.The patrols started in December “Just 2011 theto tacklevery idea safety that concerns he’s the very after first criminals Chinese hijacked player whotwo cargois not ships only and killeda Hall 13 of Famer Chinese but sailorsto haveon Oct his 5, 2011. jersey retired by a professional team is something he and we are proud of."