RALEIGH - As China's economy has grown, so have North Carolina's exports. Steve Troxler, state agriculture commissioner, is taking his third trip to the country since 2009 to ensure that growth continues.

"We're going to focus on pork, tobacco, soybeans and forestry products," Troxler says. "These are four of the reasons why China is now the largest buyer of North Carolina ag and forestry exports."

North Carolina is the world's number one exporter of tobacco and Troxler says much of that is going to China.

"I think everybody knows that China's become an extremely important buyer of North Carolina tobacco," Troxler says. "This is one area of the world where there's an opportunity for even more growth so I'm going over to meet these folks and ask the Chinese tobacco people to buy more tobacco out of North Carolina."

Not only is China a large buyer of North Carolina tobacco, pork and soybeans, but Troxler says the state has a strong relationship with China's largest cities when it comes to selling lumber for manufacturing.

"But on this trip, we're going to be meeting with buyers in some of the smaller cities to expand this lumber market," he says. "This goes for building, furniture and whatever forestry products are used for. We'll be trying to send them North Carolina lumber products."

The trip will also be an interesting opportunity for Troxler to look back on his career.

"This year, I'll be spending my 63rd birthday in Beijing, China," he says. "I can guarantee you, as a farmer, I never thought that would happen."

Troxler will be in China from April 11 to 18.