U.S. President-elect Trump has announced Iowa Governor Terry Branstad as the country's new ambassador to China, according to U.S. media reports.

Trump met with Branstad at Trump Tower on Dec. 6 (local time).

Branstad was elected as governor of Iowa for the first time at the age of 36, setting a new record at the time for youngest governor in the country. Branstad is also the longest-serving governor in U.S. history, having been in office for more than 20 years.

During the presidential campaign earlier this year, Trump hailed Branstad during a campaign stop in Iowa for his ability to trade and communicate with China. Mainstream media, including local Iowa media outlets, predicted that Branstad would be named U.S. ambassador to China after Trump won the election.

The state of Iowa is a role model in terms of China-U.S. cooperation and exchange, offering many opportunities for Branstad to communicate with and understand China. As a result, he has been engaged in bilateral exchange for more than 30 years, going back to 1983, when Iowa established sister state relations with China's Hebei province. According to the governor, he received Chinese guests in his office on a daily basis during that time.

Some presidential candidates proposed confrontation with China during the campaign. Branstad unfailingly replied that cooperation is the only path forward to mutually beneficial results. He hopes the next president will seek more economic and trade cooperation with China, rather than conflict.

Swallow Yan, executive director of the Chinese Association of Iowa, believes that Branstad has acquired rich experience through decades of exchange with China, and notes that the governor is very friendly to the local Chinese community. According to Yan, Branstad has said on many occasions that disputes between China and the U.S. are inevitable. However, he believes the two sides should seek common ground and view disputes through the lens of their development, as risks come together with opportunities.