HOUSTON, Feb. 26 -- A non-profit organization with former U.S. President George H.W. Bush as its honorary chairman was unveiled Wednesday in Houston to enhance exchanges between the United States and China.

The opening ceremony of Partnerships was held Wednesday afternoon at the Julia Ideson Library in Houston City Hall, attended by Houston Mayor Annise Parker. Bush sent a letter of congratulations.

Parker recalled her first trip to China since taking office in 2010 and marveled at how far the world's most important bilateral relationship has advanced.

She said the newly-formed Partnerships will be built into a "permanent" platform for sustained and substantive exchanges between the two countries.

Chinese Consul General in Houston, Xu Erwen, who also attended the event, commented in her speech that the birth of the organization is an "important gift" on the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic ties.

Xu said she was confident that "Partnerships will play an important role as a bridge between China and the United States... (and) contribute more to sound and stable development of the bilateral relations."

Partnerships chairman Charles Foster said the organization planned to facilitate two-way high level dialogues, organize cultural events and educational seminars, and identify opportunities to create professional exchanges or sustain existing exchanges.

More specifically, it would also promote energy and public health cooperation between the two countries, he said.

The organization has invited Parker, Chinese basketball star Yao Ming and U.S. Congressman Ted Poe, who serves on House Committee, to be its honorary directors.

Houston, the fourth largest U.S. city, has played an important role in U.S.-China relations. In 1979, China's late leader Deng Xiaoping visited Houston during his historic trip to the United States. In the same year, China established the very first Consulate General in the United States in Houston. In 2003, former Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Houston.