A DELEGATION from Jiangsu province, near Shanghai in the People's Republic of China, has just paid a visit to County Durham to check on the progress of the Interprise 20001 event, organised by the County Durham Development company (CDDC).

Mr Ye Jian, director of the official international trade and business organisation representing 20 cities, led the delegation from one of China's most economically developed regions.

As many as 40 companies from the People's Republic are expected to attend Interprise 2001.

Focusing as it does on technologies for the future and the development of new business partnerships, the event provides companies from China with an ideal forum in which to exchange ideas and explore areas of co-operation.

It also offers North-East companies a chance to set up face-to-face meetings with business leaders from one of the world's fastest growing economies.

Phil Eadon, director of marketing at CDDC and project director for Interprise 2001, said: "We were very pleased to receive the delegation from Jiangsu and to discuss the details of their participation in our Interprise 2001 event.

"Meetings were also held with senior representatives of several of our regional partners to further explore the opportunities for doing business between our two parts of the world."

Full details of the event, and the opportunity to register on-line, can be found on the event's web-site www.Interprise2001.com