Governor Brown headed to China next week

Governor Jerry Brown is heading to China next week to promote California to Chinese investors and expand the state’s economic ties.

Governor Jerry Brown. Photo by Andrew Nixon.

His office released details of the six-day trip, which will include stops in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

In Shanghai, he’ll open California’s first foreign trade office since the state closed its two offices there a decade ago. And he’ll look for opportunities to boost the state’s exports and Chinese investments in California companies.

Brown and his entourage will also visit electric car-maker BYD Co. in the southern city of Shenzhen. BYD opened its North American headquarters in Los Angeles in 2011. He’ll also use the trip to ride China’s advanced high-speed rail system as he promotes the state’s own plans for a bullet train.

A delegation of about 75 California business and government officials will accompany Brown.

They include his wife and other senior advisors, the board chair of the state’s high-speed rail project and the president of the California Chamber of Commerce.

It’ll be funded with private money by a group of business leaders from the Bay area and Silicon Valley.