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Branstad’s tales of China

In FD, the governor talks about Iowa’s bond with Xi Jinping and the pending ambassadorship

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari Gov. Terry Branstad speaks with The Messenger staff Thursday during a followup to his Condition of the State address.

The seeds of friendship between Gov. Terry Branstad and Chinese President Xi Jinping were planted long before it was announced that Branstad would take on the role of U.S. ambassador to China in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Branstad credited Gov. Robert D. Ray, who served as governor of Iowa from 1969 to 1983, for laying the groundwork for a solid relationship with China.

In 1983, Ray started a Sister State relationship with Hebei Province, China.

Branstad was part of a 50-member delegation invited to China by then Gov. Zhang Shuguang, of Hebei.

It was Branstad’s first visit to China.

“We went there in 1984,” Branstad said during a Thursday interview at The Messenger. “We were there on their national day, Oct. 1. It was like going back in time. Everyone was riding bicycles, there were no buildings more than six stories tall.”

Branstad, Iowa’s longest serving governor, arrived on an old steam locomotive.

It was harvest time, Branstad recalled.

“They were harvesting corn by hand and hauling the ears on bicycles and stacking them up on the roof of villages,” Branstad said. “They had land outside of these villages. We could see them harvesting corn by hand and stacking it up. That’s how they would dry it.”

But what Branstad remembered most was the reception.

“We got such a warm welcome when we arrived at the train depot,” Branstad said.

His wife, Christine Branstad, who was born in Fort Dodge, was with him.

“We had 50 people in our delegation,” Branstad said. “They had a big band and they presented my wife with a big bouquet of flowers. We were treated very well.”

It was the following spring when Branstad and Xi would meet.

Xi was in charge of the Feed Association of Shijiazhuang.

Xi and a small group visited Branstad in Iowa in 1985.

The time Xi spent in Iowa was memorable, according to Branstad.

Fast forward to 2011, when Branstad returned as governor.

According to Branstad, during another visit to China that year, Xi talked with him for 45 minutes about the treatment he received while in Iowa in 1985.

“He was telling me how much he loved Iowa and how well he was treated in 1985,” Branstad said.

Since then, the two have held reunions in Iowa and China, according to Branstad.

After Trump won the presidential election, it was just by chance that Branstad was back in China again, he said.

“What really caused all the speculation of me being appointed ambassador was that rally we had in Sioux City the Sunday before the election,” Branstad said.

At that rally, Trump hinted at Branstad’s relationship with China, Branstad said.

That Friday, Branstad traveled to China on a trade mission.

“They started asking where I was,” Branstad said. “Well, I was in China.”

Trump officially tapped Branstad for the ambassador role in December.

Branstad credited the people for earning Iowa such a strong reputation with Xi.

“The best thing about Iowa is the caring, hard working people that we have,” Branstad said. “A good example is why does the president of China love Iowa? It’s because the people were so nice to him when he came in ’85 and they were sincere.”

It’s unclear when the U.S. Senate will consider Branstad’s nomination as U.S. ambassador to China.

‘Smaller, Smarter Government’

During an interview with The Messenger Thursday, Gov. Terry Branstad outlined his goals for this year’s legislative session. Here is a summary of what he said.

Smarter, smaller government

More than $100 million in spending reductions need to be made this fiscal year, due to lower than projected revenues. Branstad’s proposed cuts exempt k-12 education funding, property tax relief and Medicaid.

Branstad is asking to reduce the number of state boards and commissions.

The governor is recommending a move to one comprehensive statewide health care contract for public employees

Public Safety

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, more than 400 deaths occurred on Iowa roads in 2016 — an increase from 315 in 2015. To that end, Branstad said he expects to see increased legislation for distracted driving.

“On dealing with this issue of texting and driving, I think you have go beyond that,” he said. “Require it to be hands-free. In other words you can’t have a cell phone in your hands if you are driving.”

He is recommending:

• Increasing penalties for killing a pedestrian while texting and driving.

• Implementing a statewide, 24/7 sobriety program for counties to opt into.

Water quality

Branstad recommends a bill addressing water quality that passed the House in 2016. The bill, HF 2451, will provide an Iowa-based solution implementing the Nutrient Reduction Strategy evidence-based plan developed by Iowa State University scientists.

Strategies include bio-reactors, buffer strips, cover crops and improvements to wastewater and drinking water facilities.

Education

Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds are proposing legislation that encourages public and nonpublic accredited schools to offer elementary, middle and high school students with high-quality computer science instruction by July 1, 2019.

In the program, all students would learn how computers work, according to Branstad.

Every high school is to offer at least one high-quality computer science course.

Every middle school is to provide exploratory computer science.

Every elementary school is to include an introduction to computer science basics.

“Computer science is so important that it needs to be available in all schools, regardless of where a person lives,” Branstad said. “These are the jobs of the future.”

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