BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China hopes Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will contribute more to the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations as he takes up the post of ambassador to Beijing, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the comment after the U.S. Senate confirmed Branstad, the longest-serving governor in the United States, as ambassador to China on Monday.
"Mr. Branstad has long worked to promote the exchanges and cooperation at local levels between China and the United States. We hope he will play a bigger role in enhancing the exchanges and understanding between the two peoples as ambassador to China," Hua said.
Branstad, 70, served as the governor of Iowa in 1983-1999, and again since 2011. He has nurtured a close relationship with China and has visited China multiple times.
