Reply #20: Obama Names Republican Governor Huntsman to Be Envoy to China

[stevedeshazer]

Source: Bloomberg.com

May 17 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama nominated Utah’s Republican Governor Jon Huntsman to be U.S. ambassador to China, the world’s most populous country and the biggest foreign owner of U.S. debt.

The selection of the Republican governor follows through on Obama’s pledge to seek bipartisan cooperation. Huntsman, 49, has served in Republican administrations and was co-chairman of Senator John McCain’s losing presidential campaign against Democrat Obama last fall.

Obama plans to visit China this year after a meeting with President Hu Jintao in London last month, when the two men pledged to step up dialogue and have regular talks. China is the fastest-growing major economy in the world, holds $767.9 billion in U.S. Treasury securities, and is America’s biggest trading partner behind Canada.

“There is much to be gained from a closer working relationship with China,” Obama said yesterday at the White House. “But improved relations with China will require candor, and open discussion about issues where we don’t agree, such as human rights, democracy and free speech, and will require that each of our nations play by the rules in open and honest competition.”

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aHi...