HOUSTON - The 8th US-China Petrochemical Forum was held Friday to promote energy cooperation between the two countries amid the current challenge of low oil prices.

At the opening ceremony, Shen Jiansheng, director of the Asia-Pacific cooperation section of Greater Houston Partnership, said the two sides have built a close and solid relationship in terms of energy cooperation.

"Houston is the energy capital of the world and many famous Chinese energy companies have chosen the city to set up their American headquarters," he said, adding that the bilateral energy cooperation can be enhanced in many ways.

Mentioning the US-China trade tensions, Zhang Lei, president of Global Chinese Petroleum Entrepreneur Association, said the forum is a good example of collaboration and development still remaining the main theme of the two countries' business ties.

During the one-day forum, businessmen from the two countries discussed such issues as opportunities and prospects in the energy industry as well as energy supply chain risk management.