Chinese Consul General in Houston Li Qiangmin (L) speaks as Austin Mayor Steve Adler (R) listens at an event promoting southwest China's city of Chengdu in the south U.S. city of Austin, March 8, 2019. Austin is seeking to expand its relations with China, welcoming, with arms wide open, exchanges and cooperation opportunities in education, innovation and beyond. "Our relationship with China has really accelerated recently," Austin Mayor Steve Adler told Xinhua on the sidelines of the ongoing South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)