According to the Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association's brochure, Houston and Shenzhen have been exchanging cultural, education, and social and economic information since 1984, formalizing the Houston Shenzhen Sister Cities program five years later when a delegation from Shenzhen traveled to the States.

In 1994, a Houston delegation, including a high school football team, visited Shenzhen to participate in the Lychee Festival and provide an exhibition American football game. Since then, there have been several visits between city delegates, including mayors and business leaders.

Shao said Shenzhen, ranked second in Forbes magazine's 2012 list of innovative mainland cities, is home to many Fortune 500 companies.

In 2012, Shenzhen spent 3.81 percent of its GDP, or 49 billion yuan (about $8 billion), on business development and has had more Patent Cooperation Treaty applications than any other Chinese cities for nine consecutive years.

Shenzhen is described as a melting pot of cultures, an eco-friendly environment and a city that has accelerated growth in six emerging industries, including biology, the internet, new energies, new materials, information technology and cultural and creative industries.

"I had the opportunity to visit Shenzhen a few years ago, and I was very impressed ... Mostly because there were so many similarities (with Houston), including the city's humble beginnings to becoming a dynamic, modern metropolis," said Houston Vice Mayor Ed Gonzales.

There were similar demographics between the two, he said, such as the young population of business professionals that are in evidence in both cities.

"Both have an established market that is ready for investment," he said.

During the forum, letters of investment cooperation were formally signed between Invest Shenzhen and two Houston firms, BioHouston, Inc., and OMP Enterprises.

"We really want to encourage cooperation and friendship." Gonzales said.