Gov. Pat Quinn has reportedly planned a 12-day trip to Asia in September.
The Democrat confirmed plans for the trade missing while attending a biotechnology convention in Washington, Crain's Chicago Business reported Wednesday.
At the meeting, Quinn was named Governor of the Year by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
Stops during the trip, scheduled from Sept. 16-28, will include Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley made similar trips to China when he was in office.
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Chicago for the first time in January. Hu focused on economic ties between China and Chicago.
