On April 25, 2012, Chinese Consul General Xu Erwen attended the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Exchange between Zhanjiang and Houston in the Houston City Hall. The document was signed by Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing and Houston Mayor Annise Parker. Also present at the ceremony were the Zhanjiang delegation, Houston City Council Member Al Hoang, Mr. Andrew Icken, Chief Development Officer of the City of Houston, Deanea LeFlore, Executive Director of Houston Office of Protocol & International Affairs, Matthew Shailer, Special Assistant to Mayor Parker, and Vice Consul Wang Rui from the Chinese Consulate General.

In the MOU, the two sides agree to establish cooperative relations to spur economic development of both cities. They will conduct exchanges of information and business delegations to promote trade and strengthen cooperation on petrochemical industry, environmental protection, port activities and tourism, etc.