Iowa Governor Terry Branstad helps celebrate the Chinese New Year

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad celebrated the Chinese New Year in Muscatine Wednesday night. The Chinese New Year concert was not only a celebration of the holiday, but also a way to recognize Governor Branstad’s relationship with China.   Governor Branstad said long-term relationships are important to him and Iowa has a great relationship with China’s president. Muscatine-China Initiative Committee Chairman Dan Stein said, having Governor Branstad in Muscatine really means a lot to the city before the governor becomes U.S. Ambassador to China.   “I think it speaks to the relationship, the fact that Muscatine has developed a special relationship with China,” Stein said. “As you know President Donald Trump nominated Branstad to be the next ambassador to China, so the fact that he’s choosing Muscatine to meet with some top Chinese officials speaks to the significance of the relationship.”   Stein hopes having an Iowan as ambassador to China will boost the state’s economy.   “We raise a lot of crops in Iowa, a lot of commodity products and China is one of the big buyers of that so it’s a huge impact on our economy,” Stein said. “Also in terms of their rise, they have developed so rapidly that they are the number two economy in the world now.”   Branstad said creating great rapport means a lot to him.   “Long-term relationships and friendships are important and we have had that myself with President Xi Jinping,” Branstad said.    “I think it’s really important,” Stein said. “The good thing about Governor Branstad is back in the early days even back in 1985, he was already thinking globally before China was as big of a deal as it is today.”   The governor also thanked the people of Muscatine for the recognition. He said he’s looking forward to his national post as U.S. Ambassador to China, and is grateful for the support in his home state.   “Thank you very much, it’s an honor for us to be with you for this special occasion to celebrate the New Year, the Chinese New Year and the year of the rooster,” Branstad said. “I can’t think of a better place to do than here in Muscatine.”   The concert featured 31 orchestra performers from China.