U.S. envoy sends pre-arrival greetings

Ambassador Terry Branstad greets Chinese people in this still image taken from a video sent from the U.S. embassy. (Video courtesy of U.S. embassy in Beijing)

The new U.S. ambassador to China vowed to build up Washington's ties with Beijing before making his debut in the Chinese capital.

A statement that the U.S. embassy in Beijing provided to China Daily said Ambassador Terry Branstad "will arrive in Beijing", without giving the time and details.

Bloomberg said Branstad was scheduled to arrive in China this week after meetings in Honolulu.

In a video that was sent with the U.S. embassy statement, Branstad greeted the Chinese people.

"I'm Terry Branstad, and I'm excited to be the new U.S. ambassador to China," he said in the minute-and-a-half video.

Branstad said he first traveled to China in 1984, shortly after becoming governor of Iowa.

The following year, he hosted President Xi Jinping, then a county leader, during Xi's first trip to the United States. Their friendship has since grown, and Branstad has visited China multiple times.

"More than three decades and five more visits to China later, I now look forward to working with you, the people of China, to build the future of U.S.-China ties," the ambassador said.

A strong U.S.-China relationship can contribute to solutions to many challenges facing both countries, he said, such as jobs, education, aging population and healthcare.

Branstad said the Korean Peninsula issue and expanding people-to-people ties will also be among his priorities.

The ambassador is bringing his family. "My wife, daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters will join me in Beijing, and I look forward to introducing them to the warmth and extraordinary culture of the Chinese people," he said.

Branstad said he will also travel across China to visit old friends and make new ones.

Dong Manyuan, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said Branstad's arrival in China is coming at a good time.

"The presidents of the two countries have reached consensus on guidelines for improving bilateral relations, and their personal exchanges have gone smoothly," he said.

"That has laid a good foundation for the work of the ambassador, who is a friend of both presidents."

The embassy has been without an ambassador since Branstad's predecessor ambassador Max Baucus left China on Jan 16 and stepped down on Jan 20.

Branstad was sworn in as ambassador on May 24. Before that, he was serving his sixth term as Iowa's governor, making him the United States' longest-serving governor.