The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said Sunday that a group of South Korean buyers would leave for China this week as an effort to reduce the country' s increasing trade surplus with China.

"The dispatch is aimed at preventing a possible trade dispute from our increasing trade surplus and diversifying the sources of imports," a KOTRA official said.

Buyers from 30 South Korean trading firms will be sent to the northeastern Chinese cities of Shenyang and Harbin from June 13 to 17 and hold purchasing consultations in the two cities, the KOTRA said,adding that about 300 Chinese companies have been invited to the events.

The buyers would be interested in electronic products, auto parts, chemicals, construction materials, jewelry and home and medical appliances, the KOTRA said.
China is South Korea's largest export market. In 2005, South Korea's trade surplus from China rose to 41.71 billion U.S. dollars, 7.28 billion U.S. dollars higher than the previous year.

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