The links between Angus companies and Chinese firms have been praised ahead of a visit from the Yantai Municipal Government next month.
The delegation, which will be in Angus between July 9 and 12, will conduct a series of company visits and meetings with senior elected members of the council.
Since Angus Council signed a sister area agreement with the government of Yantai in January 1999, a series of reciprocal visits by representatives from each area have been made to foster business and economic development links.
These have also helped the council promote Angus as a golfing destination to the growing numbers of wealthy Chinese golfers.
At the infrastructure services committee, Councillor Alex King said it is vital that companies in Angus continue to develop relationships with Chinese firms.
He said: “I was once employed by a company which had contacts in China. In a short time its sales people went to China and came back with orders in six figures. I know that many of the companies mentioned in this report had similar experiences.
“The support that this council can give Angus businesses in encouraging them to trade with China is extremely important.”
A trade mission in March saw former councillor Peter Murphy and leading council officials visit businesses in Beijing, Dalian, Yantai and Shanghai.
As a result, follow-up work is now being undertaken on business leads connected to Angus real estate and hotel and golf resort developments.
Other propositions include bringing golfers to visit Angus and St Andrews to participate in Carnoustie Country golf packages, for Glamis Castle to display material at the Great Wall of China Institute and Penglai Pavilion in Yantai to promote the castle as a destination for Chinese visitors.
Councillor Bob Myles said it is important that the council plays a part in discussions involving trade between the two countries, as the Chinese value political endorsement.
He said: “When this initiative was initially mooted, I was sceptical about what a council could do in China with a population of several millions. My mind was completely changed when I went out there and saw that we punched well above our weight.
“The Chinese need some sort of political endorsement before they take on a company and it’s vital that we have that support ready from the council to help these businesses.”
The council’s efforts have been praised by Libby Reynolds from Glamis Castle’s marketing team who was part of the trade mission in March.
She said: “The connections the council has already established in China were very apparent and something which I think the council should be commended for.”