Businesses from the East of England will get the chance to target opportunities open to British companies in China by signing up to join a new trade mission to the country later this year.

The announcement of the mission, organised by UK Trade & Investment, follows a business forum in Cambridge last week for small and medium-sized enterprises eager to export to the fast-growing Chinese market.

At the event, top Chinese diplomat Zhou Xiaoming spelled out prospects for British companies in sectors including biomedicine, renewable energy and IT.

The trade mission, scheduled for early December, follows a successful one to China last year. It is expected to include a visit to the huge inland city of Chongqing, with 33 million people, and to look at a range of industries. There will be opportunities to meet officials from the British Embassy and CCPIT, China's international trade organisation, and hold individual meetings as well as attending briefings and other events.

International trade adviser Steve Toogood, who leads UKTI's work to help firms from the East succeed in China, said: 'It really is essential for companies who want to break into the Chinese market to visit the country to experience at first-hand their culture and ways of doing business.'