Gregoire heading to China on trade trip

Gov. Chris Gregoire is leaving on a trade mission to China Monday night, taking with her more than 100 Washington state people involved in business, agriculture and education.

The 11-day trip to Asia, which also includes a visit to Vietnam, is intended to “expand our state’s export market, encourage investment in Washington state and promote Washington’s higher education system.” Gregoire's last trade mission to Asia was in 2005.

On the trip, Gregoire will be one of two keynote speakers at the “Washington and China” dinner for 250 Chinese business and government leaders in Shanghai. Washington’s agricultural industry is supplying some memorable food. Trident Seafoods is shopping crab, black cod, smoked salmon and salmon caviar, and Washington wine producers are donating cases of Washington wine. Other foods include state-grown apples and Tacoma-made Almond Roca.