OREANDA-NEWS. December 25, 2012. SOCAR vice-president Khalik Mammadov paid a visit to Houston mayor's office of the USA. The meeting brought together the city`s authorities, senator Rodney Ellis, and other officials.
 It was noted that there were close relationship and particularly the mutually beneficial relations between the United States and Azerbaijan, as well as sister cities Baku and Houston. The Houston officials praised SOCAR`s contribution to boosting ties between Azerbaijan and the United States.

SOCAR vice-president Khalik Mammadov said relations between Baku and Houston had rich history. “For more than a century, Baku and Houston have been pioneers and centers of oil production, setting all new trends and novelties in the industry. Baku and Houston became sister cities as early as 1976, and after Azerbaijan restored its independence in 1991, these relations entered a qualitatively new level,” Mr. Mammadov said. According to him, it’s noteworthy that negotiations on preparation of “The Contract of the Century” on development of Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields’ block were conducted in Houston city.

The SOCAR vice-president said considerable work had been done under a memorandum of understating signed last year, particularly the opening of the Azerbaijani House and the organization of a festival of Turkic countries in Houston.