RALEIGH -- Gov. Beverly Perdue's first overseas trade mission will focus on building ties with North Carolina's second- and fourth-largest trading partners - China and Japan. The 12-day trip begins Thursday. Perdue will arrive Friday in Tokyo in advance of a meeting that promotes commerce among eight Southeastern states and Japan. She'll travel next week to Beijing and later Shanghai, visiting businesses and meeting trade and government officials. There will be school visits in between. The state will pay about $77,000 for Perdue, Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, four of their staff members and security. Corporations and economic development booster groups will pay $95,000 for business-related events. Perdue's husband, Bob Eaves, also will travel but won't go on the state's dime. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)