DOTHAN, Ala. — The partial shutdown of the federal government has led to a delay in the U.S.-China Manufacturing Symposium, which was planned for Dothan.

Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz said Wednesday that officials plan to reschedule the symposium - originally set for Nov. 10-12 - until a date in March. Schmitz said no specific date has been set, but said they could be announced as soon as Thursday.

The Dothan Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/GHRQ9Y ) that the delay is due to a halt in the often-lengthy process of validating visas for hundreds of Chinese manufacturers and businessmen who were expected to travel to the United States for the symposium. Schmitz said that even if the government resumed normal operations in just a couple of days, it wouldn't be enough time to process all the visas.

Information from: The Dothan Eagle, http://www.dothaneagle.com