China-US relations: against backdrop of tension, Beijing’s envoy talks of ‘old friends’ in Iowa
- Qin Gang, China’s new ambassador to the US, continues seemingly friendly gestures, including a nod to Xi Jinping’s visits to Iowa
- Iowan farmers and agricultural associations have a firm commercial relationship with China and most are relatively friendly towards China, says academic
Lande, 83, is the executive director of Iowa Sister States, an organisation aimed at increasing Iowa’s international profile. Quinn, 79, is a former US ambassador to Cambodia and president emeritus of the Iowa-based non-profit organisation World Food Prize Foundation.
“Delighted to meet with Mrs Sarah Lande and ambassador Kenneth Quinn, to recall the fond memories of President Xi Jinping and Chinese people‘s friendship with #Iowa,” Qin tweeted on Wednesday.
“People-to-people friendly exchanges answer to the expectation of all, and give us strength and confidence.”
The appeal to Xi’s personal history with Iowa and “old friends” is in line with Qin’s conciliatory approach as US-China ties face tensions on several fronts, from the Taiwan Strait to trade tariffs.
Coming weeks will be ‘crucial’ for chances of Xi-Biden summit
Despite Qin’s reputation as a tough-talking diplomat, stemming from his days as a foreign ministry spokesman, the 55-year-old’s present demeanour is far removed from the assertive Wolf Warrior diplomacy his successors in the foreign ministry – spokespersons Hua Chunying and Zhao Lijian – have become known for.
The Chinese embassy in the US described Lande and Quinn as “old friends” in a statement about the video call published on the embassy’s website on Thursday.
“[Qin Gang] stressed that people-to-people relations underpin state-to-state relations and it was hoped that the two peoples will strengthen friendly exchanges, bridge misunderstanding with friendship and replace suspicion with trust,” the statement said.
Kissinger is referred to as an “old friend” by Beijing thanks to his efforts to normalise US-China ties. The diplomat flew on secret diplomatic missions to Beijing in the 1970s and is seen as a catalyst for then-US president Richard Nixon to meet Chinese leader Mao Zedong, paving the way for Washington to break off diplomatic relations with the Taiwan-based Republic of China and switching recognition to the People’s Republic in 1979.
US-China relations: envoys ‘look to build’ on Tianjin talks
Xi visited Iowa again in 2012 to commemorate his first trip. In 2018, Lande published a book about the China-Iowa exchange titled Old Friends: The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story, according to Discover Muscatine newspaper.
Cheng said that as an agricultural hub, Iowa’s farmers and agricultural associations were particularly dependent on China’s demand for their soybeans, meaning most Iowans were relatively friendly towards China.
“Qin Gang’s work is about making up for the poor state-to-state relations, he is doing what he can,” Cheng said.