A DELEGATION of businesses from one of the fastest growing provinces in China is visiting the region this week in search of investment opportunities.

The 15-member delegation from the country's Jiangsu province arrived in the UK last weekend.

Over the past two days the delegation, which is made up of small and medium-sized businesses and government officials from the province in eastern China, has been taking part in a conference at Durham's County Hall.

Intertech 2004 is an international networking event that is designed to bring together companies in the growth areas of technology and innovation.

Companies from the US, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have been attending the conference, which finishes today.

Although it only occupies one per cent of China's land mass, Jiangsu province produces 11 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.

The Chinese group is the largest delegation at Intertech, and includes companies specialising in the growth industry of nano-technology.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt yesterday called on British businesses to form partnerships with Chinese companies, in order to benefit from the success of the world's fastest-growing economy.

Ms Hewitt, who is leading a delegation of British business leaders and trade unions in Beijing, said opportunities for UK business in the country were enormous.

Stewart Watkins, executive director of the County Durham Development Company, one of the organisers of Intertech, echoed Ms Hewitt's sentiments.

Speaking at the Intertech conference Mr Watkins said: "We can't afford to ignore China. There are so many investment opportunities there that if we don't take advantage of these, then others surely will."

He said continued question marks over China's human rights record, including alleged abuses in Tibet, were not the concern of the conference.

"We have got to take the view that this is about business and economic development and that has to be our focus," he said.

"We're creating the opportunity for North-East businesses, and it is up to them whether they take advantage of that or not."

Li Dajing, who is leading the Jiangsu delegation, said: "Our region is looking more and more outside of China for investment.

"We're visiting the North-East of England because we think there will be good opportunities here to create business links.

"China is a very good place to do business now and things are improving all the time."