US state focuses on business, not politics

Regardless of what is going on in Washington, business communities across North Carolina want to continue to grow their business relations with China.

That's the sentiment found by a delegation from the Chinese embassy in Washington and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, or CCPIT, during a three-day visit to the state this week.

Both Carolinas' ties with China have been growing rapidly in recent years. The number of Chinese companies has grown from only a handful 10 years ago to more than 40 today. For both Carolinas, exports to China have increased 16-fold since 2000 and China is now their number one trade partner.