Miss. Governor Meets With Chinese Delegation

TIMOTHY R. BROWN

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour told a Chinese delegation that even in an economic recession, there are trade opportunities between the state and its partners in the Far East.

Barbour on Thursday welcomed the delegation from Changzhou, Jintan County, and the Qishuyan District during a trade and investment forum in Jackson. State economic development, business and other political leaders attended the event.

About 30 Chinese delegates listened to Barbour say why Mississippi is a good trade partner. The Republican governor said the number of foreign companies that have recently decided to build plants in the state is proof.

"I would say to our friends from China that Mississippi's trade situation has grown considerable. Even in a recession, Mississippi saw export sales go up 16 percent in the last quarter compared to the same quarter last year," Barbour said. "We are a state that has had a long tradition of exporting, beginning with agricultural products decades and decades ago and now with very sophisticated manufactured goods."

Foreign companies that have recently built facilities in Mississippi include Japanese automakers Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Co., Russian-owned steel maker Severstal International and commercial trucks and parts producer Paccar Inc., he said.