For the past two months, all eyes have been on President-Elect Donald Trump to see who he will nominate to various positions within the executive branch. For Iowans, this meant the excitement of having one of their very own leaders nominated to fulfill a position on an international level. On December 7, Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Governor Terry Branstad (R-IA) as U.S. Ambassador to China. Branstad has served as Iowa’s governor for six terms, from 1983-1999 and from 2011 to the present. This equals 22 years of leadership service, making him the longest serving governor in American history. “I love Iowa and I love my country,” Governor Branstad said. “For 22 years, I have been honored and privileged to serve the people of Iowa as their governor. My family and I will always be grateful to Iowans for trusting me to lead and putting their faith in me to serve.” Branstad is considered an “old friend” by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Their relationship dates all the way back to 1983 when Branstad signed an agreement establishing the sister-state relationship between Hebei Province and Iowa. Branstad’s relationship with China continued in the following two years. In 1984, Branstad led a 50 person delegation to Hebei, and in 1985, Xi Jinping, then county level party leader, visited Iowa to meet with Governor Branstad at the State Capitol. They met again in 2011 at the Great Hall of People, and Branstad invited Jinping to visit Iowa again. Vice President Xi accepted this invitation, and in 2012, visited Des Moines and Muscatine. Also that year, Governor Branstad and a handful of Vice President Xi’s Iowan friends went to China for an “old friends” reunion. Their relationship continued in 2014 when Branstad led several governors to meet with President Xi, marking the fifth trade mission in China. In 2015, the two met once more in Seattle, Washington to discuss trade between Iowa and China. “Governor Branstad’s decades of experience in public service and long-time relationship with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders make him the ideal choice to serve as America’s Ambassador to China,” President-Elect Trump said. “He successfully developed close trade ties with China while serving as chief executive of the Hawkeye State. That experience will serve him well as he represents America’s interests and further develops a mutually beneficial relationship with Chinese leadership.” According to Trump’s transition team, Governor Branstad plans to negotiate trade deals that prioritize American jobs, wages, and the reduction of America’s trade deficit. Branstad also plans to collaborate with Trump’s national security team to establish an advancement of America’s national interests and a promotion of regional stability.