Art Basel - the art fair that spawned Art Basel Miami Beach - is exploring branching out to Beijing with a new partner, Design Miami.

Both Art Basel fairs are owned by MCH Messe Schweiz, the Swiss convention centre and event management group. René Kamm, chief executive, said yesterday that a share swap sealed with Design Miami, an interior design fair co-founded by Craig Robins that runs concurrently, would open the door "to an approach to the east".