HOUSTON, Sept. 18 -- A two-day economic investment and culture exchange conference kicked off in Dallas, Texas on Thursday with the participation of hundreds of business leaders and officials from China and the city.

The conference, jointly organized by Dallas's American Chinese Federation of Industry & Commerce and the Dallas city, was held just after the launch of the American Airlines' non-stop flight between Dallas and China's Shanghai City.

It is also one of the events held for celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States.

"The southern region of the United States, especially Texas, has become one of the most popular areas for Chinese investors," Chinese Consul General in Houston Li Qiangmin said in a speech at the conference.

"More than 90 companies have invested more than 9.6 billion U.S. dollars and created more than 3,400 jobs," Li said.

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions sent a greeting to the conference, encouraging participants to take this opportunity to contribute to the development of partnerships and work collectively to form international alliances.

Michael Weng, president of Dallas's American Chinese Federation of Industry & Commerce, believed that the conference, which will showcase North Texas' unique resources and powerful technology advantages, will encourage multi-level and multi-format exchange and cooperation between the Dallas area and provinces in China.

During the two-day conference, business leaders and officials will discuss topics such as infrastructure and real estate projects, investment in retails, technology, small aircraft services and manufacturing, air logistics, aerospace, auto electronics, semi-conductor, IT services, agriculture and bio-technology.

A dance troupe from central China's Henan province will present "the Legend of Tai Chi (Chinese shadowboxing)."

As a city with a population of 1,197,816, Dallas is home to the third largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the nation.

The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, computer technology, energy, health care and medical research, transportation and logistics.

In recent years, Dallas has been trying hard to build a bridge between China and the United States and strengthen the two countries' economic and cultural relationship.