Chinese Consul General in Houston Li Qiangmin speaks at a briefing on the outcomes of the G20 summit in Houston, the United States, Sept. 16, 2016. The recent G20 Hangzhou summit and the meeting between the Chinese and U.S. presidents have unleashed fresh opportunities for cooperation between China and southern U.S. states, Li Qiangmin said Thursday. (Xinhua/Jia Zhong)

HOUSTON, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The recent G20 Hangzhou summit and the meeting between the Chinese and U.S. presidents have unleashed fresh opportunities for cooperation between China and southern U.S. states, a senior Chinese diplomat said Thursday.

The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama on the sidelines of the two-day summit, signaled joint efforts to push the bilateral relations through the U.S. election year smoothly and build a sound foundation for the next stage, said Chinese Consul General in Houston Li Qiangmin.

With expanding common interests and intertwined economies, China and the Untied States need to create healthier, more friendly and sustainable cultural and business environment for each other, Li said at a briefing on the outcomes of the G20 summit held on Sept. 4-5 in east China.

Li called for fair, just and convenient access to U.S. market for Chinese companies, saying it will benefit the United States in terms of jobs and taxes.

The diplomat also urged U.S. government and congress to lift bans on exporting high-tech and liquefied natural gas to his country, which he said, would help narrow the trade deficit between China and the United States.

On cooperation between China and southern U.S. states, Li said the two sides should focus their efforts especially on energy, infrastructure and agriculture, among other fields.

Noting that almost every of the eight southern U.S. states saw an increase between 200 percent and 300 percent of growth rate in export of services to China, Li said China's structural adjustment to the service sector offers numerous business opportunities.

Besides, he said, innovation, a highlight of the G20 gathering, has been the new engine for China-U.S. cooperation. Texas is home to top innovation hubs like Austin and Houston, while, China is at a prime time of mass entrepreneurship and innovation and welcomes U.S. high-tech and startup companies.

Environmental protection and the fight against climate change can also become bright spots in bilateral cooperation, he said, noting Texas and other southern states have both advanced technology and experience in this regard.

It's promising for American green business to invest and exploit in this field in China, he said.

Li also stressed cooperation in people-to-people exchange, saying that the total number of two-way visits between China and the United States reaches 4.75 million annually. According to a U.S. study, tourism is projected to produce more than 70,000 jobs for both countries annually.

The U.S. southern states are among the Chinese people's favorite travel destinations, Li said.

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