President-Elect Donald Trump has asked Republican Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad to be his ambassador to China, and Branstad has accepted the offer.
Branstad met with Trump Tuesday at Trump tower in New York.
The China ambassador post promises will have major significance in the Trump administration. Trump made trade with China a top issue during the campaign. And China, which is aggressively seeking to expand its influence in in East Asia, promises to be one of Trump major foreign policy concerns.
“Governor Branstad’s decades of experience in public service and long-time relationship with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders make him the ideal choice to serve as America’s Ambassador to China,” said President-elect Trump. “He successfully developed close trade ties with China while serving as chief executive of the Hawkeye State. That experience will serve him well as he represents America’s interests and further develops a mutually beneficial relationship with Chinese leadership.”
Branstad called the Chinese dictator an “old friend.”
“I have known President Xi Jinping for many years and consider him an old friend. I look forward to building on our long friendship to cultivate and strengthen the relationship between our two countries and to benefit our economy,” Branstad said.
While policy is generally made in the White House, Branstad’s close relationship with the Chinese leadership will put him in a position to help explain Trump policy to the Chinese and potentially defuse problems as they occur.
