Gov. Linda Lingle will leave on Friday for a two-week trip to China to promote tourism, trade and clean-energy projects.

The six-city visit by the state's delegation, which will include business development, tourism and trade officials, will include meetings with U.S. diplomats to possibly expedite the visa application process for Chinese visitors to the islands.

Lingle will also meet with executives at Hainan Airlines, which plans the first nonstop scheduled flights from Beijing to Honolulu early next year.

Lingle acknowledged that she will be leaving the state during a debate over an estimated $1 billion budget deficit through June 2011 and public backlash over teacher furlough days.

But the governor said it is equally important for the state to look to increased business development and prepare for the economic recovery.

Lingle said she and Ted Liu, the director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, will use state government funds to cover airfare at $1,870 each.

Hotel and other arrangements in China are being paid for by Chinese officials. Lingle said she and Liu are using personal funds to pay travel expenses during the Hong Kong leg of their trip.