New US Ambassador Locke Recognized as Strong Advocate for US Companies in China

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Aug 12, 2011, 06:27 ET

BEIJING, Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China (AmCham-China) is pleased to welcome Gary Locke as the new US Ambassador to China.

Ambassador Locke has extensive experience advocating on behalf of American companies in China. Most notably, he twice served as co-chair of the US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, pressing for improved market access and better protection of intellectual property rights to help increase US sales into China. As Commerce Secretary, Ambassador Locke spearheaded the Obama administration's National Export Initiative, which aims to double US exports by 2015.

Said AmCham-China Chairman Ted Dean, "As US Commerce Secretary, Ambassador Locke was a strong advocate for America's commercial interests in one of the world's fastest growing markets. We believe he is exceptionally well-qualified to serve in his new role."

Ambassador Locke has identified China as a critical emerging export market for US companies. In a speech in May 2011, he noted that the US and China may be at an economic turning point that would see "empowered Chinese consumers buying more goods and services from US companies" and "Chinese and American innovators working side-by-side to develop breakthrough technologies."

Christian Murck, president of AmCham-China, praised Ambassador Locke's ongoing support for US companies in China. "We believe, like Ambassador Locke, that improving the foundation for sustainable business growth in China will provide long-term benefits both for US companies and for the Chinese economy," Murck said.

About the American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China

AmCham-China is a national non-profit organization representing the interests of some 2,600 companies and individuals doing business throughout China. Headquartered in Beijing, it has chapters in Dalian, Central China (Wuhan) and Tianjin. For more information about the organization, visit: www.amchamchina.org.