Gov. Nixon plans trade trip to China

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon plans to lead a trade delegation to China later this year.

The governor's office Wednesday confirmed a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about the trade mission. No date has been set. The delegation will include business, agricultural and community leaders.

In a letter he sent this week to business leaders, Nixon says the trip will focus partly on expanding export markets for Missouri farmers and businesses.

The governor says the delegation will also work on promoting investment opportunities between China and Missouri, advancing educational exchanges and developing a cargo hub at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport for Chinese goods.

Last year, Nixon postponed a trip to Taiwan and South Korea after business leaders had warned that it could endanger the cargo hub proposal.