SWINDON Council is looking to join a £10,000 bid to be linked with the home of the iPod.

It is investigating whether to join the China Partnership Initiative - joining the University of Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the South West Regional Development Agency in formal trade and culture links with Chinese economic powerhouse Shenzhen.

A council document examining the plan describes such a link as a "coup" for the town that could lead to investment flowing both ways and more jobs in Swindon.

The partnership would also be a boost for the university, with the potential for Chinese students to study in Swindon.

Bristol is already twinned with Shenzhen's neighbour Guangzhou.

Development experts say twinning neighbouring areas in both countries could only reinforce the ties.

But the council's investigation warns that to be value for money, the twinning needs to focus on business links, not cultural trips.

The £10,000 a year would pay for a website, an official launch, six monthly visits to Shenzhen and accommodation for Chinese delegates every six months in Swindon.

"The project assumes that businesses in Swindon are looking to move in to the Chinese market and also that Chinese companies will view Swindon as an investment location," the council report says.

"The major risk is that the partnership would not yield any tangible economic benefit to Swindon-based companies.

"Another risk is that the partnership agreement might be dominated by cultural exchanges. To manage these risks, the terms of reference for the China Partnership Initiative will explicitly state that the business-focused components be integral to the partnership.

"With regards to the partnership not yielding any tangible economic benefit, the performance of the initiative will be closely monitored and reviewed."

Shenzhen is home to eight million people and hosts major international corporations including FoxConn, which manufactures Ipods and Apple computers.

Cabinet member for regeneration, redevelopment and development Phil Young said Swindon needed to make it clear to Shenzhen that the borough was smaller than its other partner cities - Houston, Texas, Nuremberg, Germany and Brisbane, Australia.

But he said Swindon could offer expertise on how to maintain economic growth while still offering happy and healthy conditions for residents.

He said there was no concrete deal yet. "We are doing more research on the detail," Coun Young said. "Shenzhen is already twinned with cities across the world.

"What we have to make sure they realise is that Swindon isn't on the same scale.

"We want to attract Chinese investment in Swindon and create jobs here."