Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds met with China’s Vice President Xi Jinping Monday.

The 45-minute meeting came during Reynold’s trip to Beijing on a trade mission with the Iowa Soybean Association.

Xi made a trip to Iowa in February to highlight friendly relations between Iowa and China.

"The meeting was a reaffirmation of a partnership that Gov. Branstad and Vice President Xi established nearly 30 years ago," Reynolds said. "Our friendship with Vice President Xi is an important one that offers great potential that could help the people of Iowa. China imports more Iowa soybeans than all other countries combined, and we look forward to a strong trading partnership with them in the future."

Xi said he looks forward to visiting his "old friends" from Iowa in the future.

— by Dora Grote