Chinese Ag Trade Delegation To Visit Minnesota

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota agriculture officials host a trade delegation from China this week.

The 24-member China Soybean Purchase Agreement Delegation will visit Minnesota as their first stop on a four-day soybean industry tour.

Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson will welcome them Wednesday in St. Paul. The delegates will also visit with soybean researchers at the University of Minnesota and the CHS Inc. headquarters in Inver Grove Heights.

The mission coincides with President Hu Jintao's visit with President Barack Obama in Washington. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says the delegation is visiting to reinforce trade relations by signing a purchase agreement for U.S. soybeans. In 2008, a similar delegation visit resulted in a purchase agreement totaling $4.5 billion.

The delegation is scheduled to sign the soybean purchase agreement in Chicago later this week.