Speaking in a video message to the Chinese people released on Monday, the new U.S. ambassador to China has said that stopping the threat posed by North Korea will be a top priority, along with resolving the U.S.-China trade imbalance.
Terry Branstad, a former Iowa governor, has been described by Beijing as an "old friend" of China. Branstad was confirmed May 24 as President Donald Trump's new ambassador to China but his arrival date has yet to be announced.
"Resolving the bilateral trade imbalance, stopping the North Korea threat, and expanding people-to-people ties will be my top priorities," Branstad said in the video message, which was released on a popular Chinese video-streaming platform.