Terry Branstad, who has accepted the offer as the United States’ next ambassador to China, will rise from humble Midwest politician to a place on the world stage – handling the complex yet far-reaching relationship between the world’s two most powerful nations – once his appointment is confirmed by the US Senate. The 70-year-old Republican governor, who has devoted much of his career to his state of Iowa, and has no prior diplomatic experience, may not seem like an obvious choice for US envoy in Beijing. When you see someone like Xi Jinping, who is very honest and sincere and has long-time friends in Iowa, I think it’s going to help reassure people that we can trust and work with him Terry Branstad, Governor of Iowa, in 2012 But his personal relationship with President Xi Jinping as his “longtime friend” could be one major reason why he was chosen by US president-elect Donald Trump for the crucial role. Branstad was also an early backer of Trump’s presidential campaign and helped the Republican candidate win the state of Iowa. Trump called Branstad “our prime candidate to take care of China” two days before the election at a rally in the state. “Governor Branstad’s decades of experience in public service and long-time relationship with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders make him the ideal choice to serve as America’s ambassador to China,” Trump said in a statement after the appointment was announced. In his new role, the Iowa governor may have to leave behind his links with the Freemasons group, which has been banned on the mainland. Branstad is listed as a member of a chapter of the secretive group in Des Moines, Iowa, the Associated Press reported. His spokesman, Ben Hammes, declined to discuss Branstad’s membership of the Masons. China welcomes ‘old friend’ Terry Branstad as likely US envoy The Freemasons group – an international order established for mutual help and fellowship – has long been a target for conspiracy theories about its members plotting control over the world order. The group’s presence in mainland China was wiped out after the Communist Party took power in 1949. Only Taiwan and Hong Kong still host Masonic lodges today. The group’s colonial roots and its secret meetings had contributed to the Chinese government’s disapproval, Brent Morris, a Master Mason and writer of The Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry , was quoted as saying by the report. Branstad’s friendship with Xi goes back decades to 1985 when Xi was visiting Iowa as a young provincial official to learn about US agriculture. The governor of the nation’s leading producer of pork, corn, soybeans and eggs, developed a strong bond with Xi as a result of the two’s mutual interest in farming. Branstad welcomed Xi in Iowa again in February 2012 when he was China’s vice president with an elaborate dinner held in his honour in the state capital, Des Moines. Branstad said at the time that he believed Xi was capable of settling long-standing sources of friction between their two nations. “When you see someone like Xi Jinping, who is very honest and sincere and has long-time friends in Iowa, I think it’s going to help reassure people that we can trust and work with him to try to work out something,” he said. Branstad, who is the longest serving governor in US history but has never sought higher office, also spoke about his friend’s high-flying career path. He was re-elected as governor in November 2010 and assumed office in January 2011 – after having served as governor from 1983 to 1999. “I’m back where I was. I’m back [as] governor again,” Branstad said in 2012, before Xi’s trip to Iowa while vice-president. “But Xi has risen from just a local leader to being the next leader of China. He has made great progress, and I am back where I was.” Donald Trump names long-time friend of Xi Jinping as US ambassador to China Xi was careful during the trip not to touch on anything to do with the leadership transition in Beijing, which was due to be held in late 2012. He was then elevated to become China’s Communist Party chief. “He is careful about not assuming anything,” Branstad said after Xi’s visit to Iowa. “He is very careful to respect the fact that he is not the president and I think he is very politically astute.” During his near 21 years in office, Branstad, the son of a small-town farmer in Iowa, has become known for his down-to-earth style of leadership and steady political career in which he has managed to remain relevant for more than three decades amid a changing political landscape in the US. Branstad will reunite with his old friend Xi at a time of great uncertainty in Sino-US ties, with Trump a frequent critic of China’s government. The governor was initially said to be reluctant about the prospect of serving as ambassador, citing his seven grandchildren in Iowa and his existing duties. ‘Diplomatic rookie’ Trump must fall into line, China media say But his week-long trade mission to China just days after Trump’s election win and his meeting with Trump in New York on Tuesday added to speculation that he was the sure candidate for the role. The Iowa governor’s strong ties with Xi have led to increased exports from the state to China. China is Iowa’s second-largest export market, behind Canada. The state exported US$2.3 billion in goods and US$273 million in services to China last year, according to the US-China Business Council. Whether such a fruitful relationship can be extended to a national level under Branstad’s guidance remains to be seen. After Xi’s 2012 Iowa visit, Branstad led his third trade mission in April 2013 to China, visiting Beijing, Tianjin, Baoding and Shijianzhuang. The trip included a face-to-face meeting with Xi. Branstad met Xi again last year during the Chinese president’s visit to Seattle.