US' New China Ambassador Vows Unity

Gary Locke was "humbled and honored" to today become the first Chinese American to serve as America's ambassador to China, showing a clear eye on cooperation between the two global powers in facing common challenges. "If our people, our business people, our scientists, our students can really join together," Locke said at a news conference, "we can solve not just the challenges and problems facing each of our countries, we can actually solve many of the problems facing the entire world."

Locke is intimately familiar with Beijing: His previous job as US commerce secretary heavily involved China and issues with its trade barriers, protectionism, and currency, notes the AP. The new ambassador also sought to assuage China, the US' largest foreign debt holder, over its newly downgraded credit rating, noting that an uptick in sales of US Treasuries was "a clear indication that investment in the United States is safe, secure and that the economy, while having its challenges, is still strong." Locke was born in Washington state to Chinese parents. He replaces Jon Huntsman, who is attempting a presidential run. (More ambassador stories.)