Terry Branstad, the new U.S. ambassador to China, is a familiar face in Beijing.
As governor of Iowa, he signed up as a sister region with China’s Hebei Province. He traveled to Hebei Province in 1984, the first of half a dozen trips to China.
In 1985, Branstad hosted then local Party Secretary Xi Jinping on his first trip to the United States.
Xi Jinping is now the leader of all of Communist China.
Branstad hopes to build on his relationship with Xi. He hopes his ties will enable him to address the serious issues facing the two nations.
Branstad recorded a video message in English, and another in Chinese, to introduce himself to his the residents in what will be his new home for the next few years.
In the video Branstad listed some of the issues he felt both the United States and China face: jobs, education, an aging population, and health care.
He then listed his major priorities, which included stopping the North Korean threat and resolving the bilateral trade imbalance.
President Trump hopes Branstad can convince Xi to tighten the reins on North Korea.
China supplies all the nation’s oil, and almost all its economic support.
China could do a lot to keep North Korea in line.
