SUFFOLK has played host to a fact-finding visit by a party of government officials from Nanjing, in China.

The delegation first toured University Campus Suffolk and its laboratories in Ipswich, led by Prof Brendon Noble, head of the UCS School of Science, Technology and Health.

UCS was also the venue for a networking buffet, at which the visitors were welcomed by Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for economic development, and Mike Saks, provost of UCS.

There were also presentations on the Port of Felixstowe, BT’s Adastral Park research facility, the Haverhill Research Park development and Suffolk tourism.

Following a visit to Ipswich School, the trip concluded with call at the Stoke by Nayland hotel, golf and spa complex, with the party then returning to London where they were due to catch a sleeper train for the next leg of their tour, in Edinburgh.

The visit was hosted by Suffolk’s “Olympic Ambassador”, Tim Passmore, as part of an initiative to maximise the economic benefit of London 2012 by encouraging leading officials from countries overseas to visit the county.

Mr Passmore said: “It has been a very worthwhile visit and we are very confident these initial links will continue to deliver mutual partnerships between China and the county of Suffolk, with a particular focus on economic, scientific, educational and cultural ties.”