The Lord Mayor of Melbourne Cr John So has invited the City of Greater Geelong to participate in a trade mission to China in May this year.

The mission will include visits to the cities of Tianjin, Guangzhou and the 2008 Olympic host city Beijing.

Cr Peter McMullin will represent the Geelong region on the trade mission and will be accompanied by the City's Manager of Planning Strategy and Economic Development Terry Demeo.

Geelong Mayor Cr Bruce Harwood said, "The mission is a valuable opportunity to promote Geelong's investment opportunities and industry strengths to the rapidly expanding Chinese market."

"The Geelong region has developed a number of commercial and educational links with China in recent years and has long had a cultural relationship with Lianyungang City - the invitation to partner the City of Melbourne in this latest trade mission is an invaluable opportunity to boost our region's profile in China," he said.

Cr McMullin who holds Council's Economic Development portfolio said he was looking forward to strengthening the ties established when he visited China in 2006 for the Australia China Business Forum.

The mission will coincide with the tenth anniversary of the establishment of Melbourne's office in Tianjin as well as the 18th Asia Society Corporate Conference.

"Our presence at the Asia Society conference gives us an opportunity to promote Geelong as an innovative, vibrant and sustainable trading partner, and we'll have access to a large number of business people and government leaders from China and other countries," Cr McMullin said.

Cr McMullin said he would be promoting the competitive strengths of Geelong at the conference as well as bringing back useful information for Geelong firms on how to trade with China.