U.S. Ambassador Branstad Visits NYU Shanghai

U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad paid a visit to NYU Shanghai on December 7 and fielded questions about U.S.-China relations from students.

Branstad, who was accompanied by his wife, Christine Branstad, and U.S. Consul General for Shanghai Sean Stein, was greeted by Chancellor Yu Lizhong and toured the campus with Vice Chancellor Jeff Lehman and Provost Joanna Waley-Cohen.

Ambassador Terry Branstad stops at B1 to play ping pong with students on his campus tour.

Ambassador Terry Branstad showcases his ping pong skills.

Following the tour, the ambassador met with a roundtable of students recommended by faculty. “China is still a mystery to many people in the US,” Branstad said. “Programs like [NYU Shanghai], where students get to integrate and get to know each other are really good” for improving relations between our two countries.

Branstad also encouraged more Americans to come to China: “This is an exciting, dynamic, and changing place,” he said, noting that his own daughter had decided to come teach and live in China with her young family for a while. “You have to have a sense of adventure, but wow - what an opportunity!”