Wilson tours Asian Nations

Wilson tours Asian Nations

LOS ANGELES (AFP): California Governor Pete Wilson leaves next week on a three-week trade mission to seven Asian nations to expand California's exports to Asia. California is the U.S.' biggest exporting state.

Wilson will visit Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, Taipei and Beijing between Jan. 11 and Jan. 31.

Japan is the biggest consumer of California's annual $77.5 billion worth of exports and demand continues to grow, primarily in the industrial machinery, electronics and precision instruments sectors.

But slowing domestic production in Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Indonesia has decreased demand for California goods, a trend Wilson said he wants to reverse.