Gov. Culver will travel to China on trade mission

By Times Des Moines Bureau | Thursday, April 17, 2008

DES MOINES — Gov. Chet Culver will travel to China in May for a 10-day trade mission, an administration official said Wednesday.

During the trip, which is coordinated by the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Culver will promote trade with Iowa. Department officials could not be reached for information about how much the trip will cost taxpayers.

Culver and Iowa business leaders, who will pay their own way, are scheduled to visit Beijing and nearby Shijiazhuang and Shanghai from May 16-25. While in Shijiazhuang, the governor will celebrate Iowa’s 25th Sister State anniversary the city’s Hebei province.

“The governor’s mission is to increase trade opportunities with China and encourage investment in Iowa businesses to create jobs here in Iowa,” spokesman Brad Anderson said.

The governor traveled to Denmark, Spain and Germany on an economic development trip last year.

The trip’s logistics can be viewed at iowalifechanging.com/intlevents/china.html.