A TOP-FLIGHT Chinese delegation interested in North Yorkshire's modern rural businesses was being entertained in York today.

The visit confirms the growing ties between the city and China and comes as a new report shows that Yorkshire businesses are more "China minded" than most in Britain.

The group of five led by Zhang Jialin, associate mayor of Xiangsan city and chief executive of the People's Government of Xiangyang district, visited Malton Bacon Factory before being welcomed to The Mansion House by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Looker, and the Sheriff of York, Bob Scrace.

They are particularly interested in learning about the efficient food production technology of North Yorkshire.

In March last year, a party of Chinese tour operators came to York, and the following month the city was visited by industrial, cultural, tourism and media heavyweights from Quzou in the west of Zhejiang province to discuss ways of forging serious links between the two cities.

In September ten Chinese dignitaries from Chongging, the world's largest city, arrived in the region to strengthen links between Chinese and British local urban planners, business people and construction experts.

The latest visit endorses research by international law firm Eversheds which shows that business people in Yorkshire are more likely to set their sights on expansion into China than the rest of Britain.

Stephen Hopkins, regional managing partner of Eversheds, said that opportunities for global commerce had never been brighter.

But he warned: "If we do not seize this chance to boast our economy, we will feel the effects in the years to come. We will lose out to places that have capitalised on and grown from the cultural and commercial benefits of international and, in particular, developing markets."

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, April 20, 2005