Gary Locke sworn in as US Ambassador to China

Former Commerce Secretary, Mr Gary Locke, has been sworn in as the new US Ambassador to China becoming the first Chinese-American to hold the post.

The Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton, who officiated the swearing in ceremony said the ex two-term governor of Washington state was the right person to manage the “extraordinarily important” relationship US has with China.

“It goes pretty much without saying, but I will say it anyway, that our relationship with China is an extraordinarily important one that we think has a great substance to it and a great deal to what kind of future we will enjoy together in the 21st century,” Ms Clinton said.

Mr Locke, grandson of an immigrant from China, was easily confirmed to the position by the Senate in a voice vote. As the top US envoy in Beijing, he replaces Mr Jon Huntsman, who resigned to seek the Republican presidential nomination to challenge President Mr Barack Obama next year.

Ms Clinton said Mr Locke is going to Beijing at a time when there will be a lot of work for the Obama Administration to do, to follow up the Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

“We are two complex, large nations with different histories and different political systems, but we know the importance of getting to know one another better, working together, solving problems together, and that is what we have been committed to doing,” she said.

Mr Locke in his remarks said that he would work in sensitive areas where America and China have differences or serious disagreement.

“I firmly believe improved US-China cooperation is critically important, not just for our own two countries but for the world community,” he said.

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