By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Mayor Michael Nutter leaves tonight with a group of local leaders on a weeklong visit to China.

This morning, the mayor stopped by a school in Chinatown to talk with students there about his trip.

Nutter spoke about his upcoming trip to Beijing and Tianjin with Steve Coyle’s seventh-grade social studies class at the Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School, at 11th and Callowhill Streets in Chinatown.

Nutter is going in his capacity as head of the US Conference of Mayors, but he told the kids he’ll be promoting Philadelphia businesses interested in exporting their goods and services.

“But also, we’re looking to see if there are companies in China that are looking for a US headquarters or a North American location,” he said. “We think that Philadelphia is perfectly situated.”

The class, which waited more than an hour for the mayor’s arrival, taught him how to say various phrases in Mandarin — including, “I’m sorry for being late.”