LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is headed to China for the next leg of his trade mission to meet with business and government leaders.

Ricketts began the trip in Japan, where he met with company officials who have opened production facilities in Nebraska.

The governor said Wednesday that he has met with Itochu, Japan’s second-largest trading company; Kewpie, a food product company with facilities in Norfolk, David City and Ravenna; and Kawasaki, which employs more than 2,000 people in Lincoln.

Ricketts says many of the talks have focused on vocational training. In China, Ricketts says he plans to talk about the center pivot industry.

Jack Schreiner, the president of the Hastings-based Bruckman Rubber Co., says the trip has helped his mid-sized business gain a foothold in international markets.