Statement on Behalf of Bob Harvey, president and CEO, Greater Houston Partnership

"We regret to see the closure of the consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Houston. The Houston consulate, which was the first Chinese consulate general to be opened in the United States, was opened in 1979. The consulate has been important to building bilateral trade and investment between the Houston region and China and for furthering cultural ties.  The consulate has also served the large Chinese ex-pat community in Houston and across an eight-state region. 

We are aware of U.S. officials’ concerns directed at Chinese officials and Chinese nationals regarding the theft of intellectual property and cybertheft in the United States and hope that China will take immediate steps to address these concerns. We look forward to the reopening of the consulate in Houston once these concerns are addressed."
 
For more information on Houston’s trade and commerce ties with China, see the Partnership’s Global Houston 2020 report, pages 12-13.