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HOUSTON， Feb.2 (Xinhua) -- Former NBA star Yao Ming was warmlywelcomed on Thursday in Houston before the Rockets' formalretirement of his #11 jersey at Toyota Center on Friday night.


During a reception held at city hall on Thursday afternoon，Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner named Feb. 2 "Yao Ming Day" andwelcomed Yao as the city's Goodwill Ambassador.


In 2013， Yao was appointed by former mayor Annise Parker asHouston's Goodwill Ambassador. The appointment was made because ofthe outstanding success he enjoyed with the Rockets since 2003，including eight years taking part in the All-Star Games. Yao wasalso lauded for the international connections he fostered and thecultural enhancement he afforded to the Houston community.


On Thursday afternoon， Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner spokehighly of Yao's contribution as a basketball player and as acultural ambassador.


Turner also congratulated Yao on the occasion of his jerseyretirement.


Rockets boss Leslie Alexander praised Yao as one of the greatestbasketball players in the world.


Chinese Consul General to Houston Li Qiangmin said that Yao is asignificant figure both for Houston and for China-U.S. relations.He described Yao as an ambassador of sports， who promotes culturalcooperation between the two countries through the medium of sports，fostering friendship between the two peoples.


Later on Thursday night， a local fan club also held a receptionto welcome Yao.


Yao， along with his family， arrived in Houston on Jan. 31. Hethanked the mayor and Houstonians for their kindness during his tenyear career in the city.


Yao retired from the Rockets in 2011 and became a Rockets Hallof Famer last year.


The Rockets will hold a special ceremony at Toyota Center onFriday night to retire Yao's No. 11 jersey. He will become thesixth Houston Rocket to have his number and jersey retired.Enditem


Donald Trump boasted on Tuesday of securing a US$50 billion Japanese telecoms investment to create 50 Cheap Jordan High ,000 US jobs, claiming another high-stakes personal win for the economy before kicking off round two of a victory tour.


The US president-elect provided no details on the jobs or investment, which he trumpeted following a meeting with Japanese self-made billionaire Masayoshi Son at Trump Tower in New York.


The property developer, who has never previously held office and whose defeat of Hillary Clinton stunned the world Cheap Jordan Mid , first tweeted the announcement, then strode into the lobby of his headquarters to brief reporters in person.


"This is Masa of SoftBank from Japan and he's just agreed to invest US$50 billion in the United States and 50,000 jobs," said Trump Cheap Jordan Low , standing with his arm around a grinning Son.


"He's one of the great men of industry, so I just want to thank you very much," he added, turning to shake the Japanese magnate's hand.


"I just came to celebrate his new job Cheap Jordan Retro ," said Son, repeating his commitment and saying that SoftBank would be investing in startup companies in America.


The flamboyant tycoon brandished a piece of paper that indicated SoftBank and Foxconn, the Taiwanese technology giant, "commit to invest $50bn + $7bn in US Cheap Jordan Shoes , generate 50k + 50k new jobs in US in next four years."


Trump got into hot water last week by taking a protocol-busting telephone call from the president of Taiwan and is under increasing fire in the media for conflicts of interest between his vast business empire and taking top office.


In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Son said the money will be coming from a US$100 billion investment fund that he is setting up with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and other potential partners.


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Trump, who won the election by promising to create jobs and shake up the political establishment, claimed the Japanese investment as a personal coup.


"Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!" the maverick Republican wrote on Twitter.


It marked the second time in a week Trump has claimed to have acted personally to save or create jobs after saving hundreds of manufacturing jobs from leaving Indiana for Mexico.


That agreement with air-conditioning plant Carrier was announced ahead of his inaugural victory rally in Ohio Cheap Air Jordan Shoes , and has raised his stock among Republican and Democrat voters alike, a PoliticoMorning Consult poll found on Tuesday.


Trump bolstered his populist credentials further by threatening to cancel a ballooning contract for two new Air Force One jets: one of the most glittering assets of the US presidency that now need updating.


He claimed, without backup proof, that the contract had escalated to more than US$4 billion Cheap Air Jordan Womens , and said he was committed to keeping government spending down and saving taxpayers' money.


Converting twin 747-8 jumbo jets into state-of-the-art command centres by 2024 was estimated to cost US$3 billion when Boeing won the contract in January 2015.


"I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money," Trump told reporters in the first of his two rare appearances in the lobby of his Trump Tower on Tuesday.


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Boeing did not directly address Trump's comments or the estimated cost, but issued a statement saying that it looked forward to delivering "the best planes for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer."


Team Trump says the president-elect is filling out his cabinet at the fastest rate "since at least 1968."


The incoming Republican president resumes his unorthodox victory tour on Tuesday by traveling to Fayetteville Cheap Air Jordan Mens , North Carolina, saying "thank you" to another of the swing states that swept him into office.


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