Nadal, 31, heads the entry list for the Australian Ope

U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad (L) speaks to the media at his residence in Beijing Steven Stamkos Lightning Jersey , capital of China, June 28, 2017. (XinhuaZhang Yuwei)


BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The new U.S Ambassador to China Terry Branstad on Wednesday pledged to work with the Chinese side for the benefit of people of both countries as well as the rest of the world.


"We recognize it is an important relationship between the two greatest economic powers in the world," Branstad told reporters one day after his arrival in Beijing.


Branstad said the two sides need to work together to deal with some pressing issues, such as the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.


The ambassador also hopes to expand trade "that will continue to increase economic opportunities for the people of China, as well as the people of the U.S."


Branstad said he looks forward to more trade of agricultural produce between the two countries.


Branstad and his family arrived in Beijing Tuesday morning.


"During the time that I'm ambassador, it's my goal to get to every province in China and to meet people from all of this great country," he said.


As President Trump is scheduled for a state visit to China later this year, Branstad said he wants to play an important role in helping to make arrangements.


"We're looking forward to being an important emissary working between President Xi and President Trump. I think their first meeting in Mar-a-Lago went over very well," said the ambassador.


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Simona Halep has advanced to Saturday night’s Australian Open 2018 final after a stunning 6-3 4-6 6 9-7 win over Angelique Kerber.


In a topsy-turvy encounter both players held match points before Halep finally clinched victory on her fourth attempt after a thrilling 69-minute final set.


She will meet Caroline Wozniacki in the final with both players searching for their maiden Grand Slam title.


Halep raced out of the blocks, winning the first five games in next to no time and despite conceding the next three, she was able to secure the opening set.


The Romaninan opened up a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Kerber again fought back to get the set on level terms at 3-3.


Kerber gradually got on top and won a series of clutch points to break Halep and send the match into a decider.


She broke again to open the third set, but Halep immediately hit back and then broke again for a 5-3 lead.


But Kerber again responded, breaking back after a stunning backhand winner following an amazing 26-shot rally.


Serving to stay in the match, Kerber saved two match points at 15-40 and eventually held to put the pressure back on Halep.


Halep wilted and surrendered her serve and it looked all over when Kerber brought up two match points on her serve.


However Halep wasn’t ready to give up, saving both with some big hitting and then breaking to extend the match.


Halep spurned another match point on Kerber’s serve but didn’t miss on her fourth attempt with a Kerber backhand sailing long to send the Romanian into the final.(Agencies)


World No. 1 Rafael Nadal lost his first match of the year 6-4, 7-5 to Richard Gasquet at the Kooyong Classic on Tuesday, but said he was happy after his troublesome knee held up “fine.”


Nadal’s knee injury hampered the end of his 2017 season and forced him to skip last week’s Brisbane International, but he was able to give it a workout at the non-tour event in Melbourne.


Though he lost in straight sets, the Spaniard said he would keep working hard until the start of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Monday.


“I’m very happy to be back in Australia,” he said. “I had a heavy year in 2017 and I started my preparation later than usual. But I’ve arrived in plenty of time. It’s great to get the feeling once again of playing a match. This was a good test for me after some good training, that’s the most important thing.”


The 16-time grand slam winner was far from his best in the exhibition encounter against a player he has beaten 15-0 on the ATP Tour in a rivalry dating back to junior days.

cn and said he will be ready to front up for the first round.


“The knee is fine,” he said in answer to the inevitable question. “I’m here. If I was not feeling good I would not be here, so that’s good news. I’ll train hard over the next few days for the Australian Open, I will be ready.”


Nadal is not playing any more matches at Kooyong, but he is also scheduled to turn out for a Tie Break Tens tournament at Melbourne Park on Thursday.


Gasquet, who missed Kooyong last year through illness and injury, was happy to get even an informal win over the Spaniard.


“It’s always a pleasure to play Rafa — I hope to beat him one day on the ATP before retiring. He’s a friend of mine and it’s great to play him,” he said.


“I’m happy with how I’m playing after a test against Rafa, who along with Federer is the best in history.”


Gasquet took the opening set, relying on a single break for 5-4 before serving it out against an opponent still trying to shake off the rust of inactivity. The Frenchman found himself in more of a battle in the second set despite going up a double break for 3-0.


The deficit barely bothered Nadal, who showed some of his classic form in closing the gap to 3-3.Gasquet forced Nadal to save break points throughout as the p. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Replica Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys China Free Shipping Cheap College Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys From China Cheap NBA Jerseys Online Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Jerseys China