Chinese traders formed new links with Bradford when they visited the city for the first time.

A delegation of businessmen from Yiwu in Zhejiang province, which is twinned with Yorkshire, were led by vice-mayor of Yiwu Municipal People's Government Wang Kui Min.

They met businesses at Leeds-Bradford airport before joining Bradford traders from Asian Trades Link at the city's Hilton hotel.

Bradford Chamber of Commerce officials and the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Irene Ellison-Wood, joined the group which included manufacturers of textile waistbands, yarns, suitcases and bags, metal doors, stationary and fashion jewellery.

Asian Trades Link co-ordinator Arshad Javed said: "Our thinking is that Bradford needs to develop trade links with other areas and we want to give opportunities to our businesses in Bradford so they can source materials and maybe sell materials. "A lot of activity such as this is based in Leeds and we feel that Bradford needs to do the same thing.

"From what we know in the business community in Bradford, people are keen to trade with China and this can only be a good thing."

As well as exploring the potential of a twinning relationship between Bradford and Yiwu, the event offered Bradford businesses key information on selling and sourcing in China and introduced them to potential suppliers and customers.

Mr Wang said: "About 70 per cent of the household goods from China are made in Yiwu and it is one of the world's largest household goods wholesale markets. Yiwu is full of opportunity for development.

"I have learned that Bradford has its own long history of culture, manufacturing and business and of the strength you have in the city and I have been pleased to see it with my own eyes this afternoon."

Bradford Chamber of Commerce president Roland Clark hailed the visit as a success and said he looked forward to developing links with China in the future.

The meeting was organised by ConnectChina, a new trade service set up by Jean Jameson and Joanna Lavan, who helped more than 200 Yorkshire firms to forge links with China through their work with the previous ChinaVentures project.