( CNN ) -- The man destined to become leader of the world 's most populous nation will sit in the halls of power in Beijing , but a part of him remains in the American heartland . Xi Jinping 's visit to the United States last February included expected stops in Washington and trade meetings in California . Even an NBA game . But the part Xi , 59 , looked most forward to was an evening in Muscatine , Iowa . He wanted to visit `` old friends '' he 'd met on a trip to Iowa almost 30 years ago . Rewind to a time when Mikhail Gorbachev was ascending to the leadership of the Soviet Communist Party , Terry Anderson was taken hostage in Lebanon and Tiananmen Square was just another place in Beijing . Xi arrived in Muscatine for two weeks in April 1985 with a Chinese delegation looking into farming technology . The next leader of the powerful communist state -- he is expected to take the helm early next year -- got a first-hand look at how American capitalists do agriculture . Doyle Tubandt , president of Muscatine Foods Corp. , recalled how Xi discussed globalization , its scope then unimaginable to many Americans . As major Chinese leadership change begins , questions swirl . Tubandt marveled at today 's global economy . His own company now exports food and pet products to China . Back then , he escorted Xi on a tour of a corn processing plant . At times , the language barrier was hard to overcome . How do you translate words such as centrifuge ? Tubandt gestured heavily and drew drawings in the sand to explain things to his Chinese visitor . He kept a tin of black tea that Xi presented to him as a memento of the visit . After all these years , the tin is preserved half full . Tubandt was one of 14 people invited to a private dinner with Xi at the circa 1866 Victorian home of Sara Lande in February . They had all met Xi on his first trip . Then , Xi had dined on Iowa beef and corn . Lande decided to go up a notch on elegance for China 's next leader . Her menu boasted tenderloin , spring rolls and bacon-wrapped scallops . `` You were the first group of Americans I came into contact with , '' Xi told his Iowa friends . `` To me , you are America . '' Xi 's visit was a big deal for Muscatine , a small eastern Iowa town known for farming , the largest Heinz plant outside of Pittsburgh and factories that used to spit out billions of mother-of-pearl buttons . That was before the refinement of plastic . As Iowa Gov . Terry Branstad put it : This is the biggest thing to hit Muscatine since Pope John Paul II 's visit in 1979 . Branstad , who also met Xi in 1985 , was invited to the dinner hosted by Lande . `` We consider you a great friend of Iowa , '' Branstad told Xi , according to The Muscatine Journal . `` We are so appreciative you chose to come to Muscatine and to Iowa . '' Xi also visited a farm near Maxwell , Iowa , in February , and while in the state , he and other Chinese officials signed a five-year cooperation deal with Washington on food security , food safety and sustainable agriculture . Three challenges for China 's next leaders . Chris Steinbach , the Journal 's former editor , told CNN that he had received thousands of e-mails from journalists around the world who were curious about Xi 's visit . `` It 's obviously a pretty big deal , '' Steinbach said . `` You never know what will come as a result of this kitchen-table diplomacy . '' That kind of one-on-one relationship made an impression on Xi on his first trip to Iowa . `` When you get the opportunity to meet somebody in their home or in a private setting , you get to know them differently than at a state dinner , '' Steinbach said . `` Clearly that worked on Mr. Xi when he was here 27 years ago . '' Now , as China 's ruling Communist Party convenes its 18th National Congress , the world wonders what course the global power will chart under new leadership . What will the future bring for America 's relationship with the Asian giant ? In Iowa , some people know this : that sometimes , it pays to sit on a couch , in front of a blazing fire and build a bridge to friendship . And that even after Xi assumes China 's top post , he will keep Muscatine close to his heart .
Xi Jinping visited Iowa in 1985 and returned earlier this year to America to visit `` old friends '' On his first trip to Iowa , Muscatine learned about agriculture techniques from farmers . He considers his America friends the best of Muscatine .