China’s Foreign Ministry today welcomed President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad as the next ambassador to China.

Branstad is a long-time friend of Chinese President Xi Jinping. And, as a farm-belt governor, he knows the value of agricultural trade with China, one of our top agricultural export markets.

Last year, China imported more than $20 billion in food and agricultural products from the U.S. Branstad could play an important role in preserving the relationship on that front and others.