BEIJING - Former US commerce secretary Gary Locke will soon arrive in Beijing to take up his new post as US ambassador to China after the Senate unanimously confirmed him on Wednesday.

According to the US embassy's official Sina Weibo micro blog, the embassy is busy making preparations for receiving the new envoy and his family.

Locke is expected to assume his post ahead of US Vice-President Joe Biden's trip to China, which will reportedly begin on Aug 17.

Locke, the first Chinese-American to take such an important diplomatic post, succeeds former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, who left Beijing about three months ago to seek the Republican nomination for president.

Locke grew up in Seattle's public housing projects, worked his way through Yale University, and then became a prosecutor and the governor of Washington State. He had been commerce secretary since 2009.

Locke said during his Senate confirmation hearings that he would use his personal story to reach out to China's people, but not shy away from sensitive issues.

He said he would also fight for US businesses by pressing for protection of intellectual property and for the right of foreign firms to compete for government contracts.

Under questioning by senators, Locke said he would make nuclear non-proliferation a top priority and urge Beijing to put more pressure on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Analysts said Locke's confirmation comes at a time when lawmakers have increasingly painted China's status as the country's largest foreign creditor as a source of concern.

"Locke's Chinese immigrant ethnic background and his experience as US commerce secretary will help him to get closer with Chinese officials for strengthening Sino-US trade, which is one of the major elements of bilateral ties," said Ni Feng, deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Locke said China is "a country filled with ultra-modern cities, where hundreds of millions have been lifted out of poverty. The administration welcomes a strong, prosperous and successful China".

"But this new status comes with important responsibilities. This administration seeks to engage China on regional and global affairs to advance international peace and stability in ways consistent with prevailing international norms, rules and institutions," he said.

At the time of his nomination in March, China welcomed the prospect of his arrival in Beijing.

"China-US relations are highly important. We hope the new US ambassador to China will play a positive role in promoting greater development in bilateral relations," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

China Daily -AFP

(China Daily 07/29/2011 page11)