State Trade Mission Courts China; Officials on an Eight-Day Trip Hope to Open the Door for Future Ventures

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Byline: WALTER C. JONES

ATLANTA -- If you'd like 1.3 billion customers, the state of Georgia is trying to line them up with a trade mission to China this week.

Or you could one day wind up working for a Chinese company with a factory here.

But Georgia Commissioner of Economic Development Craig Lesser said Wednesday by telephone from Beijing that the goal of the eight-day trip was not to return with multiple contracts. Instead, he said, the goal is to lay the foundation that would lead to many ventures in the years ahead.

"This visit was really not about specific deals," he said.

One Chinese company, Lehui Enterprises, has already …