DETROIT,Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Auto Supplier Networking, hosted by Detroit Chinese Business Association and aimed to strengthen the cooperation between U.S. and Chinese auto component and equipment suppliers, kicked off here on Friday.

    Several Chinese auto suppliers from Dalian, Guangzhou, Beijing, Hunan and Tianjin showcased their products and technologies in the one-day networking event. Over 100 auto professionals and executives from the United States, China and Canada attended the exhibition.

    Tan Mingan, president of Detroit Chinese Business Association, said that in the past decade, both U.S. and Chinese governments and auto industries have been vigorously exploring effective ways to cooperate with each other and achieve mutual benefits.

    The United States is increasingly becoming one of the major markets for the auto parts manufactured in China, and "the Networking provided a platform for U.S. Original equipment manufacturers and Tier suppliers to meet with Chinese counterparts and find alternative supply sources," he said.

    China exported nearly 7-billion-dollar auto components and equipment in 2006 to the United States, according to statistics released by the U.S. Commerce Department.

    With improvement of quality and innovation, China is becoming the second largest auto parts supplier for the United States after Mexico.