Eric Li, from UK Trade and Industry, paid a visit to the 1000 Lakeside North Harbour building on Thursday morning to push businesses to branch out into China.

Invited by Portsmouth City Council, he offered advice on how to reap rewards from making the leap across the globe.

He said: 'Different companies have different reasons for investing. China is a huge market and has a low-cost manufacturing base.

'But sometimes when doing business in China, you need to go to local government, and go through a lot procedures, regulations and paperwork.

'It's more complicated then setting up a business in the UK. Also a lot of companies are moving inland away from the coast or to Vietnam because of environmental restrictions.'

Paul Watson, sales director for 35-strong Waterlooville-based firm Cemco FSL, which makes PCB manufacturing equipment, said their Chinese exports have dropped dramatically in recent years, and they wanted to find out how to shore up sales.