Beatrice signed an agreement with a Chinese firm.

The marketer of food and consumer products announced that the agreement was with China International Trust & Investment Corp. The two will form a joint venture to be known as Beatrice-CITIC Development Co. The new firm will seek to develop a variety of consumer products in China and to develop new opportunities for exports, officials said. James L. Dutt, Beatrice Cos. chairman and chief executive, said that among the initial projects currently under study is the development and modernization of the soft-drink and food industry in China in a number of cities over the next two to three years.