(DURHAM) -- Gov. Beverly Perdue and other state officials continue a trade mission in China.  Before returning from the eight-day trip, the governor and Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco plan to visit the Duke Kunshan University campus in Kunshan, China.

“The DKU campus is expanding North Carolina’s role in the global economy by strengthening the state’s relationship with a market that is crucial for growing North Carolina businesses,” said Perdue.

The six-building, 750,000 square-foot DKU campus is currently under construction, with campus operations expected to begin during the 2012-13 academic year. Creation of the university is a partnership among Duke, Wuhan University and the city of Kunshan. The city of Kunshan provided the land and is funding construction of the campus.

“We are honored to have Gov. Perdue and Secretary Crisco visit the site of Duke Kunshan University,” said Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead. “We hope DKU will play an important role in the continued development of strong ties between North Carolina and China, and I am confident that the visit by the governor and secretary will enrich existing relationships and open the door to new areas of cooperation.”

Perdue and Crisco visit the campus on Saturday.