The president of China, a longtime associate of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, will be returning to the United States later this year.
Governor Branstad has invited the Chinese leader to visit to Iowa again during the trip. XiJinping first came to the state in 1985 and returned in 2012 to sign a multi-billion dollar soybean export deal.
“We have already sent a letter saying we would love to host him in Iowa again,” Branstad says.
Branstad says he knows the Chinese leader is going to Washington, but won’t predict if his agenda could include a return trip to the Hawkeye state.
“We are going through the proper channels on that,” Branstad says. “That obviously is a decision they will make.”
Xi Jinping’s visit in 2012 included a stop in Muscatine as well as a statehouse dinner attended by 700 people.
Branstad says the relationship with China is important because of the potential for exports to the Asian nation. He says he may return to China later this year.
Branstad also announced at his weekly news conference that he will lead a trade mission to South Korea and Japan in September.