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Obama Nominates New US Ambassador to China

   Kent Klein | White House  March 09, 2011
   President  Barack  Obama  (l)  announces that Commerce Sec. Gary Locke
   will be the next US ambassador to China, in the Diplomatic Room of the
   White House, March 9, 2011

Photo: AP

   President  Barack  Obama  (l)  announces that Commerce Sec. Gary Locke
   will be the next US ambassador to China, in the Diplomatic Room of the
   White House, March 9, 2011

   President Barack Obama on Wednesday named his Commerce Secretary, Gary
   Locke,  to  be  the  new U.S. Ambassador to China. If confirmed, Locke
   will  be  the  first  American  of  Chinese  ancestry  to serve as the
   nationâs top liaison in Beijing.

   The  president said that as the grandson of a Chinese immigrant to the
   United  States,  Locke is the right person to advance ties between the
   two countries.
   âMore than 100 years ago, Garyâs grandfather left China on a steamboat
   bound for America, where he worked as a domestic servant in Washington
   state. A century later, his grandson will return to China as Americaâs
   top diplomat.â
   Locke  said  he  is eager to begin the assignment. âI am going back to
   the  birthplace  of  my grandfather, my father, my mom and her side of
   the  family,  and  I  will  be  doing  so  as a devoted and passionate
   advocate for America - the country where I was born and raised.â
   Lockeâs  appointment  to  the  post  requires confirmation by the U.S.
   Senate.
   He  would  replace  outgoing Ambassador Jon Huntsman, a Republican who
   might seek to challenge Obama in the 2012 presidential race.
   China  is  the  worldâs  most  populous  country  and  has  one of the
   fastest-growing  economies.  Relations  between  the United States and
   China  often have been strained over human rights and economic issues.
   Â
   As  he  introduced Locke, the Obama called the U.S.-China relationship
   âone of the most critical of the 21st century.â
   âOver  the last two years, we worked hard to build a relationship that
   serves  our  national interest - addressing global security issues and
   expanding  opportunities  for American companies and American workers.
   Continued  cooperation between our countries will be good for America,
   it will be good for China and it will be good for the world,â said the
   president.
   One  of  Obamaâs  economic priorities is to dramatically increase U.S.
   exports, especially to China. Locke said he has worked toward that end
   and would continue to do so in his new post. Â
   âAs  Commerce  Secretary,  I  have  helped open up foreign markets for
   American  businesses  so  they  can  create  more  jobs  right here in
   America.  And  I  am  eager to continue that work in China and to help
   you,  Mr. President, manage one of Americaâs most critical and complex
   diplomatic, economic and strategic relationships.â
   The  president  said  U.S.  companies will be able to count on the new
   ambassador  to  represent  their  interests  in  front  of Chinaâs top
   leaders.

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