President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Iowa governor Terry Branstad as the US ambassador to China. The governor of a lightly populated agricultural state boasts a 30-year relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, one of the most powerful leader in the decades.

Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that, "Given Xi's penchant to keeping things close-hold, it is important for the US to have a reliable and direct communication channel to him." "Branstad has met Xi periodically since 1985 and has a personal relationship with him that could be very useful."

Donald Trump said during his election campaign that, his administration will make closing the America trade deficit with China a top priority.

According to Patrick Cronin, senior director of the Asia-Pacific security program at the Center for a New American Security, by selecting an ambassador who has forged commercial ties between US and China, Trump was signaling to Xi that as leaders they will have the same fundamental priority in seeking economic growth.

Cronin said that, "I don't think anyone is a drinking buddy of Xi Jinping, but familiarity is useful and could advance US diplomacy," he said.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio appeared to criticize the Trump's pick and said that, "It is my hope that this new administration will appoint an ambassador to China that reflects these priorities, not simply someone who is going there to catch up with old friends."  

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Nandini