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Iowa Governor Looks to China for Investments

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  • Description

    Gov. Terry Branstad, (R-Iowa), explains why he wants to increase trade with China.

  • Duration 4:28
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The governor of Iowa Terry Branstad is is going east with the ten day trade trip to Asia in includes meetings -- top government officials in China and I talked to the governor.

And asked him why would the governor of Iowa -- going to China.

Well I went to China in the first time when I was governor.

Back in the eighties and we established a sister stayed in Hebei Province and now the vice president of China.

Who came up the ranks from Hebei Province is a vice president at China and I want to meet with him aware selling a lot of soybeans and corn.

We have I will companies like John -- and pioneer in.

And now Vermeer that are doing significant business over there we want to.

Increase trade and that's been very good for the our economy and in creating jobs in our state.

That vice president China G engine king is actually going to be the president of China and not.

Very long time so that's -- an important -- person for you to talk to you.

However I'm a little curious as to what the perception of you going to China is.

Back home -- talk to people the midwest the association of China often is data taking American jobs from us had to get past that.

Well actually Iowa farmers are pretty excited.

They've seen our exports to China in the last decade go up over a 1000%.

Today we have record soybean and corn prices.

And Iowa companies like a premiere manufacturing 500 jobs and college dependent on exports to China so I think most Iowa and see this is something it's.

Good for the Iowa economy good for creating jobs and Iowa and something that can be very beneficial long term we also have a company called Principal Financial Group.

There would love to be able to sell them for a one -- in the Chinese market -- had great success in Brazil I hope down helped them open doors in China as well.

China's a big market for wealth everything they've just so many people there that's just the way it works out and that's why people like you are excited about going there however what.

What would your assessment be.

Of our policy United States' policy towards China are we handling.

Are we handling them right right now for lack of a better way of asking the question.

Well first of all.

Our state is had a long time friendly relationship -- China.

Through the sister state program.

I was proud to sign the sister state with governor John issue Wong from the Hebei Province back in 83 I went to China and 84 we maintain this.

Friendship and build.

On that relationship.

Had many exchanges and obviously benefited from the trade.

What when it comes to policy obviously the governors can't set national policy that's done by the federal government right but we certainly want to take -- we want to use what we can the relationships and the friendships and having this.

Our relationship with the next president China I think can be a very positive thing for Iowa as we work to increase our egg in food exports yes and also -- Manufactured opportunities.

And manufactured goods in China and and reimburse investment as well.

We're looking for Chinese companies to invest and Iowa what.

-- What's the difference.

From China of when you first went -- -- China back in the eighties is -- speak to what did the real growth opportunity is like and what people need to understand about what China's like now.

Just anecdotally or what what the feeling is for you go to China now vs what it was like back then.

Well was like going back in time when they went there in the eighties there were no buildings more than six stories tall now they were using bamboo scaffolding to build buildings.

Today you have all kinds of cranes.

They have a very strong economy skyscrapers.

It's changed very dramatically.

I'm anxious to see the dramatic transformation that's taken place.

But we're very proud that we've built this long standing.

Friendship and sister state and we want to build on that any increase our export opportunities in China already companies like John -- and pioneer in.

And many other Iowa companies are -- are doing great things over there and and we want to have even more opportunities in the future you'll see better airports than you'll ever see in this country's initial land there hidden Beijing or Shanghai -- it's amazing you know.

Airports in the roads and all of that has been dramatically.

Transformed when I went there the first time.

We took a train from Beijing -- -- -- swamped and it was an old steam locomotive.

Thank you governor appreciate it have a good trip.

You back and look at.

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