The door is open between West Virginia businesses and China's coal-rich Shanxi province after meetings earlier this week in Charleston.

State Commerce Secretary Kelly Goes says the Chinese delegation asked the state and business representatives to travel to Shanxi province this September for a major coal exposition.

"They've invited major companies from all over the world to discuss clean coal technology, coal mining safety, extraction and uses for coal, it's a very comprehensive conference," Secretary Goes said.

The West Virginia coal-related businesses believe they can provide products and services to the province. "There's a natural fit there between a country getting heavily into extraction and a state that can provide services to that industry," she said.

Secretary Goes is also hopeful the relationship with Shanxi province can advance the state's efforts in converting coal to liquid fuel.

"It allows us to co-monitor the progress made in this country, the progress made in that country in utilizing coal as a resource to be gasified or liquefied or be a feed stock for other products," Goes said.

Goes says West Virginia needs to be part of the global discussion when it comes to coal and its future uses.

Sales to China to West Virginia increased 37 percent in 2007.