Trade trip to China 'extremely productive,' Branstad says

Gov. Terry Branstad said Wednesday he has wrapped up “an extremely productive” four-day trade mission to China.

Speaking with Iowa reporters by telephone, the governor said the whirlwind visit has produced a lot of prospects for additional business between Iowa and the Asian superpower that likely will lead to future partnerships and investments, “but we're not ready to make an announcement at this time.” The itinerary took the Iowa delegation to the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Baoding City and Shijiazhuang.

Branstad said the highlight of his latest trip to China was a face-to-face meeting with the nation's president, Xi Jinping, a “warm and cordial” 45-minute conversation that got considerable coverage in the Chinese daily newspapers, he noted.

• MORE: Read Gov. Branstad's column in the China Daily newspaper, as published April 15

“I greeted him as an old friend and that's what he calls us. I just felt really good about it,” the Iowa governor said. “He specifically talked about the benefit of these sub-national meetings between the provinces and the governors.”

Branstad and Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Bob McDonnell of Virginia also participated in forums that included meetings with five Chinese provincial leaders.

The Chinese president, who first met Branstad during a 1985 visit to Iowa when he was a lower level Communist Party official in a delegation of people from Iowa's Chinese sister state, “spoke highly of his relationship with Iowa,” Branstad said. “He also discussed the importance of continued partnerships between the people of Iowa and the people of China.”

Branstad called the visit with Xi “a tremendous honor” that marked his first meeting with U.S. governors since becoming China's president.

“President Xi spoke highly of his history with the state and the people of Iowa. He even recalled the menu from the state dinner we held on Feb. 15, 2012, and the delicious corn, soybean, pork and beef that we ate,” he added.

The rest of the trade mission focused on promoting global partnerships, as well as expanded trade and direct investments in Iowa during talks with current purchasers of Iowa products and potential business partners, Branstad said.

“I think there are a lot of good contacts coming out of this,” he told reporters.

The four-city swing included a visit to the Great Wall auto plant that produces 1,000 cars, trucks and SUVs a day, Branstad said, and a visit to an agricultural university in the Hebei province – where the Iowa governor marked the 30-year anniversary of Iowa's sister-state relationship with Hebei.

“We've gone from being friends to really trusted allies,” said Branstad, who expected events would take place in Iowa later this year to mark the anniversary as well.

“I signed the original agreement in 1983 establishing the sister state relationship between the state of Iowa and Hebei province. It was an honor to recognize this anniversary 30 years later in Hebei,” he said. “It is no secret that this sister state relationship has been very beneficial to the people of Iowa, and we look forward to more success in the future with this unique partnership.”

Branstad said he expected to return to Iowa by Thursday night.