Chinese officials are on a two-day visit to Carlisle in a bid to build trade links with the city.

Six representatives from Maotai Town and the Guizhou Province will meet the Mayor of Carlisle, the leader of Carlisle City Council, Tullie House officials, local businesses and representatives from the Carlisle Ambassadors initiative.

The visit kicked off on Wednesday with a visit to Tullie House and meetings with a selection of food and drink businesses including John Watt and Sons, Carlisle Brewery, Eva's Organics, Grasmere Gingerbread, Cows and Co, Lakes Distillery, Solway Spirits, Xocolate, Claire's Handmades and Molly Rose Drinks.

On Thursday, they will visit the Civic Centre and find out more about Carlisle's history as well as key developments including Borderlands and St Cuthbert's Garden Village.

The leader of Carlisle City Council, Colin Glover, said: “The visit could provide potential trade connections and the opportunity to access global markets.

"Carlisle is a growing city and the city council is a key partner in a variety of ambitious sustainable schemes. The visit will also be a showcase for our heritage, history and tourism - all key economies.”

Michelle Masters, Carlisle Ambassadors project manager, said the visit presents economic opportunities for the future of the city. She will meet the delegation along with other members of the initiative, including Colette McQueen, Bespoke Minds; Emma Skelton, Warwick Mill; and Amanda Ryan, Social Elf and Young Carlisle Ambassador, Alastair Herd Photography.

She said: "We can only maximise these opportunities if we work together as a business community, join forces through Carlisle Ambassadors and make these opportunities work for us to put Carlisle firmly on the international business map, where it belongs.’’

The Chinese delegation is made up of DENG Fan, vice mayor of the Renhuai City Municipal Government, Guizhou Province; WANG Tingyong, party secretary of Maotai Town, Renhuai City; WANG Qian Director, Renhuai City Maotai-flavour Liquor Research Institute; and CHEN Jiong, deputy general manager of Renhuai City Alcohol Investment Company.

Nick Low, counsellor at the British Embassy in Beijing and Head of the British Government's China Regional Network, welcomed the opportunity to build links between the two cities.

“Deepening and broadening collaboration and cooperation at the regional and local level is at the heart of the Golden Era between the United Kingdom and China,” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring that it's a Golden Era for all our people no matter where they live. I've had the pleasure of working with Carlisle over the last year and a half and have been impressed with the city's energy, ambition and its offer, which spans heritage, culture, public service delivery and the local economy. We look forward to working with Carlisle during this visit and beyond."