BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States-based NYSE Euronext exchange group hopes for growth in China, its chief executive officer said here.

    Duncan Niederauer, who is on his third visit to China since he took on the job last year, told Xinhua the visit is "very important" for the group to explore business in China. He plans to visit companies that have already listed on NYSE Euronext and contact potential clients.

    The Chinese derivative market is a new target for NYSE Euronext, which signed a memorandum of understanding with China's largest futures exchange by volume, the Dalian Commodity Exchange, on Tuesday to develop futures and options markets in the two countries and internationally.

    A similar agreement would be signed with the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange this week, he said.

    China is the largest source in the Asia-Pacific for listed companies in NYSE Euronext, with 47 companies.