U.S. Ambassador to China nominee Terry Branstad pledged on Wednesday to have a "constructive role" in enhancing China-U.S. relationship during a news conference in Muscatine, Iowa.
"I am very honored and very proud to have been chosen to be the ambassador to China," Branstad said in an interview with the Chinese state-owned Xinhua News Agency. "We want to continue to enhance the relationship and to increase trade between our two countries."
As China as the largest developing nation and the U.S. as the largest developed nation in the world, improved ties and trade between the two countries will benefit the entire world, he added.
Branstad accepted U.S. President Donald Trump's nomination for the post of U.S. Ambassador to China in December last year. He will remain as governor of Iowa until his nomination is confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with confirmation hearings expected to begin in late February or early March.
China welcomed Trump's pick, with Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Lu Kang describing Mr. Branstad at a news briefing last year as "an old friend of the Chinese people," a phrase used to describe politicians trusted by Beijing.
"We would welcome him playing a bigger role in promoting Sino-American relations," Lu said.
When asked about the potential challenges he may face in his new position, Branstad said the relationship between Beijing and Washington is of critical importance to both countries and the rest of the world.
He said that while there have been ups and downs in China-U.S. ties, he will seek to iron out many of the differences between the countries based on his experiences as a longtime friend of China.
"I hope . . . that I can play a constructive role trying to work out many of these differences in a way that makes it a win-win. It is beneficial to both of our countries, and also benefits the rest of the world," Branstad said.
Branstad added he would welcome more Chinese investment in the United States.
"I think we have seen just the tip of the iceberg of the potential investments here," he said, "now we are seeing companies . . . that have been here for some time, doing business in America. And I think many more Chinese companies will want to do that."
70-year-old Branstad holds the distinction of being the longest-serving governor in the United States. He served as Iowa governor from 1983 to 1999, and again since 2011.