Branstad to meet in Washington in preparation for confirmation

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry Branstad won't be in attendance when President Donald Trump sits down with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.

Attending and participating in the meeting between the heads of state would be 'inappropriate” and 'premature” because Branstad has not received Senate confirmation to be Trump's ambassador to China, the governor said Monday.

Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday in Florida.

Instead of joining the presidents, Branstad will be in Washington through Thursday to meet with members of the U.S. Senate and officials with the State Department to prepare for his confirmation hearings, which could be as soon as late this month.

Although his name was submitted to the committee Jan. 20, no hearing date has been scheduled for Branstad's conformation. A spokesman for the committee's top Democrat, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, told qz.com that's because the committee has not received all of the paperwork Branstad submitted some time ago.

Whenever the hearings are scheduled, Branstad said he will be prepared. He's studying 'to learn as much as I can in preparation for that.” His has an 'ambitious” schedule while in Washington, with meetings with Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, congressional leaders not on the committee and State Department representatives.

'Obviously, this is one of most important assignments because China is the largest country in the world, but also second only to the United States in terms of their economy,” he said.

'I also respect and recognize this is a different role than I've had as governor,” he said. 'Now I will be representing the United States.”

Branstad believes he has an advantage in that he has visited China six times and has a personal relationship with Xi, who calls him 'old friend.” A sister state relationship was formed with the Chinese province of Hebei in Branstad's first year as governor in 1983.

'I think I have the unique opportunity to show that I am truly a friend of China,” he said.

Branstad hopes his 'long-term friendship and relationship with the leadership of China and the Chinese people will help (him) communicate some of the issues that we need to get resolved between our two countries. And there are many.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com