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Shell USA President visited China recently

Sinopec executives sign agreement for closer ties with Houston

5:02 AM ET Nov 1, 2006

HOUSTON (MarketWatch) -- Top China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (SNP) officials signed a cooperation agreement with Houston Mayor Bill White, vowing to strengthen ties between one of Asia's largest energy companies and the world's oil and gas capital.
"We're very willing to become closer or extend our relationship with the international oil and petrochemical companies," Vice President Zhou Yuan said during the signing ceremony at the Houston City Hall.
The company - also known as Sinopec - already trains many of its engineers in the Houston area, but as the center of the global oil and gas industry, the city could offer more, said Helen Chang, director of the Houston's International Affairs and Development office.
"We want them to set up an office in Houston," Chang said. The city also wants Sinopec to help sponsor an alternative energy conference next year.
White and several Houston business leaders - including Royal Dutch Shell PLC's (RDSB.LN) U.S. unit president John Hoffmeister - visited China for 10 days in July, hoping to boost Houston's economic and cultural standing in one of the world's fastest growing economies.
Sinopec is Asia's largest refiner, and one of China's largest producers of oil and natural gas.
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