Press Releases

Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Co-Chair of the bipartisan US-China Working Group, released the following statement based on news reports that US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke will be the new Ambassador to China.

"If these reports are true, I applaud the Administration for selecting Gary Locke as our country's new Ambassador to China. As Secretary of Commerce, he has been at the forefront of tackling the tough trade issues we have with China, mainly as an advocate of opening China's emerging consumer market to US goods and services.

"As much focus as there will be on Gary's own upbringing as the son of a Chinese immigrant who became a US citizen and served in the US Army in World War II, he is an ideal choice because he will be representing the US values of freedom and democracy to a country that sorely lacks both.

"As Co-Chair of the US-China Working Group, I look forward to collaborating with Gary on the many important economic, political and cultural relationships between our country and China."

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