Topeka ? With a delegation of Chinese political and business leaders visiting Kansas to strengthen trade relationships, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius promised Wednesday to visit China later this year.

The 26-member delegation is from Henan, a sister state with Kansas since 1981. The group’s leader, Xu Guangchun, said he hopes to become more familiar with the Sunflower State and help promote economic ties.

The two-day trade mission began with a welcoming ceremony at the Statehouse, where Sebelius announced her plans to visit Henan and other parts of China in October, though she said details aren’t set.

Xu is Henan’s political leader as chairman of the Standing Committee of its People’s Congress. He became chairman seven months ago and told Sebelius he wanted to become more familiar with Kansas.

Henan and Kansas have a formal agreement to promote cultural and economic exchanges. China is the state’s fourth-largest trade partner, having imported more than $200 million in Kansas goods last year.

A delegation from Henan last visited Kansas in 1996, but Chinese Ambassador Yang Jiechi came to the state on a trade mission last year.