UPDATE: Iowa Gov. Branstad 'Honored and Humbled' to Become Ambassador to China

UPDATED at 2:50 p.m. DES MOINES, IA — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, the nation's longest-serving governor, says that while he loves his home state — and had just days ago said he had no plans to move overseas — he has accepted the position of ambassador to China after a Tuesday meeting in New York with President-elect Donald Trump.

A Trump spokesman told reporters mid-morning on a call that Branstad, 70, has accepted the job, which is contingent on approval by the U.S. Senate after Trump's inauguration.

The President-elect said Wednesday afternoon that Branstad is considered an "old friend," by China's president, which is of cultural significance in the country. Since leading his first delegation to Hebei Province in 1984, Branstad has led six trade missions to China, meeting with numerous provincial governors, ministerial leaders and local officials.

“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,” said Trump. “He successfully developed close trade ties with China while serving as chief executive of the Hawkeye State. That experience will serve him well as he represents America’s interests and further develops a mutually beneficial relationship with Chinese leadership.”

Branstad's office confirmed the appointment Wednesday afternoon in a statement, saying he will work to continue the collaboration between the "two largest economies and two largest militaries in the world. ... I am honored and humbled to be nominated to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China. ... This is an extraordinary opportunity." (See the full statement below.)

Trump had suggested Branstad as the country's ambassador to China during campaign appearances in the Hawkeye state earlier this year. Branstad has a long-standing relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping dating to 1985, when he was a Hebei provincial official and director of a feed association and visited Iowa as part of a sister state/province program.

"Gov. Branstad obviously as Iowa’s long-serving governor is someone who has considerable public-policy experience but also someone who has a lot of experience and great grasp of trade issues, agriculture issues, has a tremendous understanding of China and Chinese people," Trump spokesman Jason Miller said, according to the Des Moines Register. "He’s someone who very much impressed the president-elect not just during their meetings on the campaign trail but also in their meetings after the election. It’s very clear that Gov. Branstad is someone who will represent our country well on the world stage."

The Cedar Rapids Gazette says Xi stayed with a family in Muscatine and met Branstad at his formal Statehouse office as part of a visiting delegation. Xi returned to Iowa as Chinese vice president in 2012; the state and China are longtime trade partners.

The GOP governor has served in office since 2011, after previously serving from 1983 to 1999.

“We welcome him to play a greater role in advancing the development of China-U.S. relations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a press briefing and called Branstad an “old friend.”

When he leaves office, Branstad would be followed by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who would be the first woman to serve as governor in the state.

Reynolds in a statement praised Trump's pick of her boss, who she said has never backed down from a challenge.

"I can think of no one more qualified and ready to represent Iowa and the United States of America on the world stage than Gov. Branstad," Reynolds said. "His hands-on experience in advancing trade opportunities for Iowa farmers and Iowa companies, coupled with his strong and lasting relationship with President Xi Jinping, as well as other leaders in China will serve him well in strengthening U.S.-China relations."

Reynolds has served in her position for six years, and before that was in the Iowa Legislature. Information on a transition will be forthcoming.

Iowa will host a Trump thank you rally in Des Moines on Thursday. The President-elect, along with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, will appear with Branstad at 7 pm. at Hy-Vee Hall in the Iowa Events Center. Doors open at 4pm. Get tickets through the Trump campaign website.

Branstad and most of the state's GOP establishment endorsed Trump in the election, and he easily won Iowa, winning 93 of 99 counties.

Gov. Branstad's full statement:

I love Iowa and I love my country. For 22 years, I have been honored and privileged to serve the people of Iowa as their governor. My family and I will always be grateful to Iowans for trusting me to lead and putting their faith in me to serve.

America is at a crossroads, and the American people are looking for bold change to renew our position as the leader in the world. To once again hold America up as that ‘shining city upon a hill’ as President Reagan so proudly proclaimed. By electing President-elect Trump on November 8, this message was sent loud and clear by the voters.

During our 30-year friendship, President Xi Jinping and I have developed a respect and admiration for each other, our people and our cultures. The United States - Chinese bilateral relationship is at a critical point. Ensuring the countries with the two largest economies and two largest militaries in the world maintain a collaborative and cooperative relationship is needed more now than ever. The President-elect understands my unique relationship to China and has asked me to serve in a way I had not previously considered.

After long discussions with my family, I am honored and humbled to be nominated to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China. I also accept President-elect Trump’s charge to prioritize collaborative policies that will Make America Great Again. This is an extraordinary opportunity. I believe that the respect and admiration built over a decades-old friendship between President Xi and I give me an opportunity to help the President-elect and serve Iowa, the United States and the world for the better.

This new mission to continue serving my state, and my country, in a new role is essential to building a bright future for our children and grandchildren. With my wife Chris by my side, I look forward to the work ahead but we will never have Iowa far from our hearts.

»Photos of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, plus Branstad with China's president, Xi Jinping, from governor's office