ST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis is making its latest pitch to Chinese business leaders to make Lambert Airport an international air cargo hub.
Representatives of Chinese businesses are in the St. Louis area this week, meeting with regional officials and touring sites to scrutinize the area's infrastructure and capacity to accept cargo flights from China.
There's also talk of nonstop passenger flights between China and Lambert.
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri embraces the prospect of such congestion returning to Lambert.
And retiring Sen. Kit Bond says the interest from China shows St. Louis has a strong future, with any potential deal involving China meaning more jobs and economic activity for the St. Louis region.
The city of St. Louis and St. Louis County are pushing for the area to be declared a foreign trade zone.