Gov. Terry Branstad began a trade mission in China on Thursday, and during the trip, he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, Branstad will meet with Xi on April 15.

“I am excited to catch up with our old friend Xi Jinping,” Branstad said in the release. “The value of this relationship cannot be overstated. As a result, Iowa is the preferred provider to feed China’s growing population, and our agriculture exports to China continue to grow. This type of international trade currently supports 430,000 jobs right here in Iowa.”

Branstad and Xi first met in 1985, when Xi traveled through the state for the Iowa Sister States program, the release said. Additionally, Xi visited Muscatine and Des Moines in February 2012.

Iowa business officials and U.S. governors are joining Branstad on the trip to four cities in China.