Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang(R) shakes hands with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in Beijing, China, July 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State of Iowa will maintain its friendship with China and seek even closer cooperation, its new governor said during her visit to China with an all-Iowa agriculture trade mission.
"This is the first time in history that Iowa has sent out an all-agriculture trade mission, which consists of seven agricultural commodity groups. This best speaks to how much we value the Chinese market," Kim Reynolds said in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday.
One month after former Iowa governor Terry Branstad took office as U.S. Ambassador to China, Reynolds started her first trade mission to China as the state governor on July 21, at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
The mission includes delegates from soybean, corn, pork, beef, eggs, poultry and dairy producers. They met with officials of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, and local governments in Shanghai, Xi'an and Beijing.
As one of the U.S.'s top agricultural states, Iowa leads the country in corn, soybean and pork production, and has played a key role in expanding U.S. exports to China, which is Iowa's third largest trade partner.
Close economic and trade cooperation with China has been a major boost and highlight for Iowa's economic growth, the governor said.
According to statistics from the U.S.-China Business Council, a non-profit organization, Iowa's exports to China have grown rapidly during the last decade. In 2015, the total value of agricultural products exported from Iowa to China reached 1.4 billion U.S. dollars.
"One out of every four rows of soybeans in Iowa are destined for China," said Reynolds.
She noted that China's recent resumption of U.S. beef imports is great news for Iowa farmers. It is estimated that Iowa's beef exports will increase by 13 percent.
"Agriculture is critical for U.S.-China trade. You need to try some Iowa beef," she said.
With China's middle class growing and their purchasing power getting stronger, there are more opportunities for Iowa in the future, said Reynolds.
A demonstration farm is set to be built next year in north China's Hebei Province, Iowa's sister province since 1983.
"The farm will be a link between Iowa and Hebei," the governor said, adding that it will show how advanced farming technology helps Iowa farmers increase yields, guarantee food safety and control pests without pesticides.
