Branstad touts benefits of sister-state relationships

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry Branstad said Friday that Iowa's sister-state relationships in eight foreign countries are paying dividends he never imagined.

Branstad, who recently returned from what he called a “very productive” trade mission to South Korea, China and Japan, said that hit home when he had a 50-minute meeting with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. Xi, once a low-level official in Hebei, China, visited Iowa in 1985 as part of the sister-state program.

Branstad said Xi still had the itinerary from his April 26, 1985, visit to the Iowa Capitol and held fond remembrances of Iowans.

Branstad said he plans to invite Xi to Iowa for a reunion with those who were part of the 1985 trip when he makes a visit to the United States next year. Branstad said he believed Xi, who is line to become China's president, has a strong understanding of agriculture which will be helpful for Iowa to expand exports.

“I think that's a great opportunity for us to capitalize on additional commerce and additional exports there, and maybe even other opportunities that we don't even imagine at this point,” Branstad said.

“Iowa has been a leader in building these sister states and friendly relationships around the world and, frankly, today I think that's leading to great economic opportunities for our state as well. It's paying off in a much bigger way than I ever imagined that it would have,” he added.

Branstad made the comments as he welcomed a Taiwanese agricultural goodwill mission and signed memorandums of intent for Iowa to export corn and soybeans to Taiwan. Bao-Ji Chen, a professor with National Taiwan University's Department of Animal Science and Technology who led the Taiwanese delegation, said the Des Moines stop was the last of a Midwest swing, adding “we saved the best to the last.”

Branstad said he had fond memories of a 1989 mission to Taiwan and believes Iowa's ties with Taiwan and mainland China are helping bridge relationships.

Iowa currently has eight sister-state agreements that date back to 1959, when Iowa established a long-standing relationship with Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture.

Other Iowa sister states include Hebei, China; Cherkasy, Ukraine; Stavropol, Russia; Terengganu, Malaysia; Taiwan; Veneto, Italy, and Yucatan, Mexico.