A photo taken at the dinner. [Provided by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to China Daily]

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds hosted Chinese friends and Iowa "Old Friends" of China on February 8 at the Governor's mansion to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Governor Branstad is the longest-serving governor in American history, and is an "Old Friend" of China. During the dinner, he shared stories of the long lasting friendship between him and President Xi Jinping.

Governor Branstad expressed his confidence in building a deeper and stronger relationship with China based on a solid foundation of trust and friendship that first started in 1985, the year of President Xi's first visit to the US.

He said that Madam Li, President of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, has worked tirelessly to enhance sub-national cooperation between the US and China. He is one of her American friends who is willing to do more and promote this friendship.

During the evening he also told stories about the sister state relationship between Hebei province and Iowa.

He said he would like to devote more to the sister state relationships. There is great mutual benefit to the relationships for citizens from both sides. He sent his best wishes to all the Chinese people. "I want to wish a very happy New Year of the Monkey to all of our Chinese friends. I wish you a healthy and successful New Year!"

The guest list included "Old Friend" Luca Berrone and his wife Margaret; special Chinese guests Eric (Sun Tao) from Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); Joanna (Jin Hanghang) from CPAFFC; and Erica (Li Xintong) from Hebei People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; President of Iowa Sister States (ISS) Paolo Bartesaghi; Will Zhang, Chair of the ISS' Hebei Committee; Executive Director of ISS Kim Heidemann; ISS International Program Manager Kassi Wheeler; and Policy Advisor Julie Vande Hoef of the Governor's office.

The events were organized by Iowa Sister States (ISS). ISS manages the partnership programs that the State of Iowa has with nine different international partner states. Iowa and Hebei province have been partners for more than 30 years. It was via this relationship that President Xi first traveled to, and toured, Iowa in 1985.

Jin Hanghang (Joanna) from Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in Iowa contributed to this article.