US, China focus on hybrid, EV, expecting partnerships

Hundreds of officials and entrepreneurs from China and the United States fixed their eyes on hybrid and electric vehicles on Friday, when the first U.S.-China Advanced Technology Vehicle Summit kicked off in Indianapolis.

The summit, which is hosted by the Energy Systems Network, a non-profit organization focused on growth and commercialization within the clean technologies and energy sectors, brought together a delegation of Chinese automakers and Indiana manufacturers of components for hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles to share information and explore potential business relationships that could result in new opportunities for Hoosier firms and future foreign investment in the state.

The Chinese delegation was led by Wang Chao, the Assistant Minister of Chinese Ministry of Commerce, and comprised by nearly 100 Chinese government officials and automotive executives coming from several Chinese top automakers and vehicle parts suppliers.

In a statement, the organizers quoted Wang Chao as saying that it's "the largest delegation of Chinese automotive company executives and officials to travel to the United States".

The U.S. participants, including Indiana manufacturers Cummins, Delphi, Allison Transmission, EnerDel, paid much attention to this summit as China has surpassed the U.S and become No.1 in vehicle sales.

Henry Kong, the chief engineer coming from Delphi Automotive Systems (China) Holding Co. Ltd and taking a special trip from Shanghai to Indianapolis to attend this meeting told Xinhua they are going to "find some cooperation opportunities with China automotive companies."