First Minister Carwyn Jones has said Wales' relationship with China is vital to the principality's future.

Next week the Labour leader will visit China on an education and economic mission. He will take a delegation of Welsh business and academic representatives with the aim of raising the principality's profile as a place to invest.

During the visit, the group will visit Beijing and Chongqing - whose government signed a collaboration deal with former first minister Rhodri Morgan in 2006.

Mr Jones said: "Our relationship with China will be vital to the future of Wales. I am delighted to be visiting the country to build on our business, cultural and education links.

"It is essential the Welsh Government and Wales' business and education organisations continue to do all they can to develop and advance our relationship with China. Only by promoting ourselves abroad can we look for opportunities to grow our economy and academic sector."

Business delegates travelling with the First Minister include representatives from the Wales Aerospace Forum, the Welsh Automotive Forum, the Welsh Optoelectronics Forum and the Life Sciences Sector.

Higher education institutions that will be represented include Cardiff, Swansea, Glamorgan, Glyndwr, Bangor and Newport universities.

The schedule includes meetings with Chinese government officials, to discuss foreign trade, economic co-operation and foreign investment, as well as a number of deals with Welsh universities.

Since the Assembly's inception in 1999, ministers in Cardiff Bay have looked to build ties with their counterparts in China on a number occasions.

A Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between the Chongqing Municipal Government and the Welsh Government in 2006. It was followed up by a "formal" cooperation agreement between the two parties in 2008.