Forum provides ideas for overseas Chinese students

A forum was held Saturday in Houston to provide a platform for overseas Chinese in the fourth largest U.S. city to share career development ideas with industry leaders and for local businesses and companies from China to seek talents.

More than 100 people, including city officials, entrepreneurs, community leaders, overseas Chinese students and young professionals attended the 2012 Annual Career Development Forum & U.S.-China Economy & Culture Exchange Forum, co-sponsored by U.S. China Education and Culture Exchange Center,the United Association of Chinese Alumini in Houston and the International Chinese Transportation Professional Association.

Topics discussed at the forum included career development, entrepreneurship and academic achievement. A number of local businesses and four enterprises from China set up booths at the site for potential job seekers.

Al Hoang, council member of Houston City, extended warm welcome to all participants and stressed the importance of increasing trade and ties between the U.S. and China.

As Texas' largest trading partner, China received more than 10.9 billion U.S. dollars worth of Texas goods in 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry said in a letter to the forum.

As the economies of China and the U.S. continue to expand, the relations between the two countries will grow in importance, Perry said.

"Houston has been enriched by the presence and contribution of its citizens of Chinese ancestry and recognizes their important role in the culture, civic, economic and spiritual life of our city," Houston Mayor Annise Parker said in a letter.

The forum aims at providing local Chinese students and young professionals a much-needed chance to establish new contacts and share career development ideas, said Fengxiang Qiao, co-chair and secretary general of the forum.

This year's forum for the first time introduced four enterprises from China to local job seekers, said Qiao.

"We bring in Chinese companies because, on the one hand, we want to encourage overseas Chinese students to serve China after graduation, and on the other hand, we hope to help Chinese companies find top minds from abroad," Qiao said.