Telecommunications giant Ericsson held a meeting Wednesday for localized purchasing in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, in a bid to find new partners in the western market.

Sources with Ericsson say the corporation's total purchases have amounted to US$10 billion with 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) of that being spent in China. The budget for this year is estimated to be above last year's figure.

It is the first time Ericsson has had such a meeting in China's western region. As well as its current suppliers, companies dealing with telecommunications, electronics and mechanics from Chongqing and neighboring Sichuan Province were also present.

Analysts here say being accepted as Ericsson's supplier means a broader business base and being part of Ericsson's global purchasing network.

Currently, Ericsson has over 70 suppliers in China. Ten joint ventures, solely-funded companies and 24 regional offices have been established in China since the 1970s. More than 4,500 employees are now working for the Swedish corporation.