HOUSTON (AP) _ A significant meeting concerning the future of 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming will be held Monday in Beijing, his agent told a Houston television station Saturday. Erik Zhang said in a telephone interview from Shanghai with KRIV-TV that he was invited to the meeting along with Yao's mother and their Chinese agent to discuss Yao playing in the NBA. Zhang said the meeting indicates the Chinese Basketball Association recognizes Yao's right to choose his own agent. ``This is a necessary meeting if Yao Ming is to be allowed to play in the NBA,'' Zhang said. ``We look at this as a positive first step.'' Houston Rockets officials left for China on Saturday morning to meet with Shanghai Sharks regarding Yao. ``The main thing we are going to try and accomplish is to develop a relationship with the Chinese officials,'' Rockets lead negotiator Michael Goldberg said. ``They've given us a gracious invitation, and we've got to see if we can get that measure of trust and get a deal done.'' The Rockets could select the Sharks' star player as the No. 1 pick in the June 26 NBA draft, but there are details to be worked out with the Shanghai team and other Chinese government officials.