Alaskan governor to lead trade mission to China in May

Alaskan Governor Bill Walker will lead a trade mission to China in May for talks with Chinese decision-makers to expand the northwesternmost US region's markets, the governor's office announced on Monday.

At a press conference on Monday, Walker detailed the new trade mission, called Opportunity Alaska: China Trade Mission. Besides meeting government officials, the delegation will also have networking events with industry representatives during their May 19-26 visit.

According to Chinese official data, China has been the largest trade partner and export destination of Alaska since 2011.

Alaska exported more than US$1.32 billion worth of goods to China in 2017, according to Walker's office.

Alaska is working to partner with an investment bank, a sovereign wealth fund and a China-owned oil company to develop a US$45-billion project to export liquefied natural gas to China.

Last month it launched a new scholarship program to fund Alaskan students to study in China and is hoping to increase flights to the world's second-largest economy.