Birmingham council leader Mike Whitby is heading off to the Far East for a five-day visit to boost trade relations between China and the city.
Coun Whitby has been invited by the Mayor of Nanjing, the home city of MG Rover's owners Nanjing Automobile, where he is expected to tie up a sister agreement.
He will be tying up details about the restart of car production at Longbridge, while plans are also afoot for a delegation of 25 Midland manufacturers to go next year.
