Gov. Mark Sanford is expected to lead an S.C. trade mission to China in October.

The mission is being planned in conjunction with Sanford's attendance at the Southeast U.S./Japan conference in Osaka, Japan, Oct. 26-28.

John Ling, of the S.C. Commerce Department, said the delegation will include S.C. businessmen and will visit several Chinese cities. Ling will travel to China next month to work on planning the trip.

Sanford attended a dinner Tuesday night in Columbia with a delegation from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.