President Obama has named Utah Governor Jon Huntsman to be the next US ambassador to China. Huntsman is a Republican who had been mentioned as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2012. Huntsman, who speaks Mandarin, served as deputy US trade representative in the administration of President George Bush from 2001-2004. He also served as co-chair of Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign.

Jon Huntsman: “You have my commitment that we will take the US-China relationship to new heights, focused not just on that which divides us, but more importantly on that which unites us, knowing that this will be critical for lasting peace and prosperity for citizens on both sides of the Pacific. I’m reminded of my favorite Chinese aphorism. It goes something like this: 'Together we work, together we progress.' This, more than anything else, I think captures the spirit of our journey going forward.”