Branstad compares Chinese vice president's trip to visits by pope, Krushchev

Gov. Terry Branstad Monday compared this month's trip of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping to Pope John Paul II's 1979 visit to the Living History Farms in Urbandale and Nikita Khrushchev's 1959 visit to the state.

Xi visited the state in 1985 when he was part of a Chinese contingent to the state, where he first met Branstad. Now, he's returning to the state with scheduled stops in Muscatine and Des Moines.

Branstad said the visit was “by far and away the biggest” event for the state during any of his five terms as governor.

Xi is expected to arrive the evening of Feb. 15 in Des Moines after spending time in Muscatine. Branstad has planned an invitation-only welcome dinner at the Capitol. Branstad said he is working with federal and Chinese authorities on security arrangements.