Trump picks China’s ally as its ambassador

This article is more than 12 months old

Dec 09, 2016 06:00 am

NEW YORK :President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday selected a political ally with close ties to China as ambassador to Beijing, stressed his determination to create US jobs and revealed he consulted President Barack Obama on his cabinet picks.

Mr Trump picked Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who has close ties to Chinese President Xi Jinping dating back to the mid-1980s, as ambassador to China, AFP reported.

Said Mr Trump: "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."

Upon reports of Mr Branstad's nomination, China called him an "old friend".