奥巴马驻华大使.doc

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. As many people know, our current Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, has decided to step down from his current job. During his tenure, Jon has been an outstanding advocate for this administration and for this country. He made a real sacrifice in moving his family out of the state that they loved and has helped to strengthen our critical relationship with the Chinese government and the Chinese people. And so I am very grateful for his service. In replacing Ambassador Huntsman, I can think of nobody who is more qualified than Gary Locke. More than 100 years ago, Garys grandfather left China on a steamship bound for America, where he worked as a domestic servant in Washington State. A century later, his grandson will return to China as Americas top diplomat. In the years between these milestones, Gary has distinguished himself as one of our nations most respected and admired public servants. As our countrys first Chinese-American governor, he worked tirelessly to attract jobs and businesses to Washington State, and he doubled exports to China. Two years ago, I asked Gary to continue this work as Commerce Secretary. I wanted him to advocate for Americas businesses and American exports all around the world, make progress on our relationship with China, and use the management skills he developed as governor to reform a complex and sprawling agency. He has done all that and more. Hes been a point person for my National Export Initiative, and last year, Garys department led an historic number of trade missions that helped promote American businesses and support American jobs. Hes overseen an increase in American exports, and particularly exports to China, a country we recently signed trade deals with that will support 235,000 American jobs. As Commerce Secretary, Gary oversaw a Census process that ended on time and under budget, returning $2 billion to American taxpayers. Hes earned the trust of business leaders across America by listening to their concerns, making it easier for them to export their goods abroad, and dramatically reducing the time it takes to get a patent. When hes in Beijing, I know that American companies will be able to count on him to represent their interests in front of Chinas top leaders.As one of the worlds fastest-growing economies, our relationship with China is one of the most critical of the 21st century. Over the last two years we worked hard to build a relationship that serves our national interest - addressing global security issues and expanding opportunities for American companies and American workers. Continued cooperation between our countries will be good for America, it will be good for China, and it will be good for the world. As the grandson of a Chinese immigrant who went on to live the American Dream, Gary is the right person to continue this cooperation. I know he will bring the same skills and experience that he brought to Commerce Secretary to this new position that hes about to embark on. I want to thank him and I also want to thank his gorgeous and extraordinary family, whos standing here - Mona, Emily, Dylan, and Maddy. Its always tough to move families. Maddy just turned 14 today, so I was commiserating -SECRETARY LOCKE: Emily.THE PRESIDENT: Emily just turned 14 today, so I was commiserating with her as somebody who moved around a lot when I was a kid as well. I assured her it would be great 10 years from now. (Laughter.) Right now its probably a drag. But Im absolutely confident that this is - we could not have better representative of the United States of America in this critical relationship than were going to get from the Locke family.And, Gary, I wish you all the best of luck in Beijing. Thank you so much.SECRETARY LOCKE: Thank you, Mr. President. Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. And Im deeply humbled and honored to be chosen as your next ambassador to China.It was a little over a century ago that my grandfather first came to America to work as a houseboy for a family in the state of Washington in exchange for English lessons. And he went back to China, had a family, and so my father was also born in China, and came over as a teenager a few years later. He then enlisted in the United States Army just before the outbreak of World War II, became part of that “greatest generation,” and saw action on the beaches of Normandy and on the march to Berlin, and then came back to Seattle to raise a family and start a small business.My father never imagined that one of his children could ever serve as the Secretary of Commerce in the United States of America. And he was beaming with pride, Mr. President, the day you presided over my swearing-in ceremony. Sadly, Dad passed away this past January. But I know that if he were still alive, it would be one of his proudest moments to see his son named as the United States ambassador to his ancestral homeland.Im going back to the birthplace of my grandfather, my father, my mom and her side of the family, and Ill be doing so as a devoted and passionate advocate for America, the country where I was born and raised.As Commerce Secretary, Ive helped open up foreign markets for American businesses so they can create more jobs right here in America. And Im eager to continue that work in China and to help you, Mr. President, manage one of Americas most critical and complex diplomatic, economic, and strategic relationships.Im excited to take on this new challenge, as is my wife and our children - to varying degrees among the kids. (Laughter.) And well be leaving Washington, D.C., with great memories and many new friends.Being Commerce Secretary has been one of the best jobs Ive ever had, thanks to the immensely talented and dedicated men and women within the Department of Commerce, in the White House, and within the Cabinet. And Im proud o