Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Obama nominates Locke as ambassador to China

President Barack Obama, left, announces that Commerce Sec. Gary Locke, right, will be the next US ambassador to China, in the Diplomatic Room of the White House Wednesday, March, 9, 2011. Locke is replacing Jon Huntsman.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais
/
AP Photo
President Barack Obama, left, announces that Commerce Sec. Gary Locke, right, will be the next US ambassador to China, in the Diplomatic Room of the White House Wednesday, March, 9, 2011. Locke is replacing Jon Huntsman.

 WASHINGTON (AP)     President Barack Obama has nominated Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to be the next U.S. ambassador to China. At a White House appearance Wednesday (Video), Obama credited Locke for expanding exports to China and said he has earned the trust of business leaders.

The post is one of the most important diplomatic jobs in government. If confirmed by the Senate, Locke would become the first Chinese-American to serve as the envoy to China.

Locke, 61, would succeed Jon Huntsman, the former Republican Utah governor who resigned and is exploring a potential presidential run against Obama. Huntsman plans to leave Beijing at the end of April. Locke would be the first secretary to leave Obama's Cabinet. Locke's grandfather emigrated from China to the United States. Locke says he is honored to be chosen.

Audio from the news conference:

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-956648.mp3

The Associated Press (“AP”) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from the AP. Founded in 1846, the AP today is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering. The AP considers itself to be the backbone of the world’s information system, serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television, and online customers with coverage in text, photos, graphics, audio and video.