On the afternoon of July 26th, The Tianjin-Texas Investment & Economic Cooperation Meeting was held at the Tianjin Pipe Group Corporation Meeting Center. Prior to the meeting, Chairman Li Qiang’s leadership team took part in discussions regarding the operation and construction status of the TPCO America Project with State Representative Todd Hunter and his delegation. Vice-Director of the Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Zhu Weishan, TPCO Preisdent Sun Kaiming, and Todd Hunter were present and spoke at this meeting. TPCO Vice-President Liu Hongan presided over the meeting. The Texas Delegation, 14 company representatives and TPCO America Project leaders attended the meeting.
Zhu Weishan pointed out in his speech, Tianjin and the USA have always maintained friendly exchanges and trade. America has already become the second largest foreign market for Tianjin, the number of Tianjin enterprise investing in the USA already reaching 216. Exchanges and cooperation in metallurgy, high-tech research and development, logistics, warehousing and other fields are expanding and interdependence is constantly growing. In September 2014, “Chinese Province and Texas Trade and Investment Cooperation Joint Working Group” was officially established. As a member of the Chinese side, Tianjin has established a good relationship with a sister city in Texas and each continues to promote pragmatic cooperation with each other. Under these joint efforts, the investment by today’s host, TPCO, in the seamless steel pipe project has become the largest greenfield investment by China in US history. This marks a new milestone for bilateral cooperation in the field of manufacturing processes. This Tianjin-Texas Investment & Economic Cooperation Meeting is to further deepen the relationship between Tianjin and Texas, guide and service enterprises to actively carry out international economic cooperation and promote the two sides on the basis of mutual benefit, greater cooperation and development.
On behalf of the company, Sun Kaiming warmly welcomed the arrival of distinguished guests. He said in his speech, “TPCO, as one of the world’s largest enterprise specializing in the production of seamless steel tubes, has always been committed to providing global customers with the best products and services. TPCO America has received great support and help from local state, county, municipal leaders, the EDC and Port Authority, making hiring and development of supporting facilities very convenient. At the same time the Tianjin Commission of commerce has given a lot of specific help. For this, we express our heartfelt gratitude. Currently, TPCO America Phase I has already started operations, utilizing our own proprietary products to serve the US and Canadian markets. Phase II is actively moving forward. TPCO America will strive to build the company into a reputable, responsible and respected, globally competitive localized company, that contributes to local economic development. I believe the local government departments at all levels will continue to give us support and help in all aspects, in order to stimulate more Chinese enterprises to invest. I hope that through our unremitting efforts, we can build TPCO America into a model for bilateral economic and trade cooperation between Texas and Tianjin, between China and America. We can build trust, a bridge of communication and friendship, to promote Tianjin Texas mutual investment and economic cooperation for mutual benefit and common development.
Todd Hunter said, “Tianjin Pipe Group is a great company, and more importantly, our good friend. Thank you for your friendship and investment. Tianjin’s many friends have become our vital partners. Texas is the second largest state in the US. As a state representative, I am happy to see many investment opportunities and development opportunities with Texas and Tianjin – China and America. Trade, investment and economic exchanges, make the world seem smaller and smaller. I’m paying close attention to desalination, oil, transport and tourism projects. I warmly welcome more enterprises from Tianjin to come to Texas to invest.
At the meeting, Corpus Christi Economic Development Board and Port Authority officials introduced the local investment environment and Port Corpus Christi. The Tianjin delegation of entrepreneurs and representatives were intent on cooperation. Before the meeting, Li Qiang, Sun Kaiming, Meng Liang, Liu Hongan and other group leaders accompanied the Texas delegation, visited the TPCO Science and Technology Building, exhibit rooms, rolling mill 460-unit production site, employees and technological innovation park sports center and to watched the feature film, “Glory”, reflecting the company construction and developmental achievements.
