City business leaders aim to build on links with China

The trip is being led by Sheffield's city development company, Creative Sheffield, and the Sheffield International Trade Centre, which is based at the city's Chamber of Commerce.

A group of representatives will visit Beijing and Chengdu, which was recently named Sheffield's new partner city in the country after it developed sporting links with Sheffield United.

The international manager at Creative Sheffield, Joanna Lavan, said the visit would take place in October, and added: "Over recent years, many Sheffield companies have become increasingly active in the Chinese market.

"Sheffield is also becoming seen as the place for Chinese businesses to invest. As a result of this, Creative Sheffield have been leading the Sheffield China Business Network since its creation in 2008.

"This trade mission is a natural progression of this work and is a fantastic opportunity for organisations and entrepreneurs in the region to take the next step towards developing their business on this international level."

Ms Lavan said the key element of the visit would be the EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair in Chengdu. Last year, the fair attracted more than 600,000 visitors.

Stuart Steel of the South Yorkshire International Trade Centre added: "Sheffield's new partnership with Chengdu and this trade delegation gives local businesses the chance to develop trading links with one of the world's most important and still growing economies."