LIVERPOOL, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The mayor from one of Britain's biggest cities will Saturday head a two-week trade mission to China, visiting six major cities and covering 25,000 km.
Joe Anderson, mayor of Liverpool, is co-leading the mission with the leader of the neighboring borough of Wirral, Councillor Phil Davies.
The delegation includes companies from the marketing, property and technology sectors, as well as representatives from universities and Chambers of Commerce, aimed at building stronger international business links and investment opportunities.
The trip will see the 20-strong group beginning their tour with three days in Kunming, Yunnan province. Relations with Kunming were strengthened when businesses and government officials from the city sent a delegation to Liverpool during the recent International Festival for Business 2016, staging an exhibition of Yunnan culture.
The itinerary will also take in Chongqing, also in Southwest China, the port city of Tianjin, China's capital Beijing, Qingdao and Liverpool's sister city Shanghai.
Anderson, who heads the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: "Our relationships with Chinese businesses are flourishing and it makes absolute sense that we market the entire city region to achieve maximum impact and the best results."
Wirral Council Leader Councillor Phil Davies added: "The city region is a great proposition for international investors. I am delighted Wirral businesses are joining the delegation and we especially look forward to reconnecting with business and government contacts in Tianjin, where we have established good investment connections."
Ellen Cutler, director of mission organisers Invest Liverpool, said: "There are clear opportunities for Liverpool city region businesses to build new markets, win investment and acquire new clients by engaging with China."
"The Liverpool brand continues to have real cut-through in China because of its exceptional cultural assets and also because of the very strong cultural and business links we have fostered over the last decade," said Cutler.
