US envoy: Let's work together
By Lydia Chen |
August 15, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE arrival of the new United States ambassador, Gary Locke, the first Chinese-American to hold the post, met with a cautious welcome online after he held his first press conference in Beijing yesterday.
Most of the more than 3,500 comments about Locke's first speech as ambassador agreed on one thing - 61-year-old Locke, whose parents are Chinese, is typically American.
"What we see now is simply a new US ambassador who happens to have a Chinese face," xink618 said on Weibo.
Others said there should be no illusions over Locke's background as he was here to work for the country where he was born and grew up.
"Whatever he says and does represents the interest of the United States of America," was another comment. "He grew up with American culture, which is fundamentally different from the Chinese one in terms of life and world values. If anyone wishes he could help China with anything based on his skin color, then it just means how ignorant the person is."
Locke said yesterday that the two countries could solve many of the world's problems if their governments worked together more.
At the news briefing with his family by his side, Locke said the two countries could provide global leadership. He did not directly mention the bilateral issues that are likely to feature in talks between the two, such as human rights and trade, according to the Associated Press.
Locke's previous role as US commerce secretary was one that involved heavy interaction with China - America's largest trade partner? and often involved conflicts over such matters as trade barriers, protectionism and currency issues.
Locke told reporters yesterday that he would try to promote greater understanding between the nations.
"Certainly there are many challenges facing both China and America," he said. "But if our people, our business people, our scientists, our students can really join together, we can solve not just the challenges and problems facing each of our countries, we can actually solve many of the problems facing the entire world."
Feeling "humbled and honored" to be the first Chinese-American to become the top China envoy, Locke assured China its investments in dollars would be safe despite the recent downgrading of the US credit rating.
"We know that over the last several days more people are buying US Treasuries," Locke, formerly the US commerce secretary, said in response to a question. "It's a clear indication that investment in the United States is safe, secure and that the economy, while having its challenges, is still strong."
Locke, who doesn't speak Chinese, has been described in the Chinese media as a US politician who is tough on China's trade policies. He once pledged he would do everything he could to press China to open its market to more US goods and services.
But this tough image was somewhat softened on the way to his new job. Pictures of Locke lining up to buy coffee at the Seattle airport were posted on the Internet. There were no bodyguards or assistants, as many Chinese would have expected.
Locke also won praise for carrying his own luggage and sitting with his family in an ordinary business vehicle instead of a luxury sedan when they arrived in Beijing last Friday.
Most of the more than 3,500 comments about Locke's first speech as ambassador agreed on one thing - 61-year-old Locke, whose parents are Chinese, is typically American.
"What we see now is simply a new US ambassador who happens to have a Chinese face," xink618 said on Weibo.
Others said there should be no illusions over Locke's background as he was here to work for the country where he was born and grew up.
"Whatever he says and does represents the interest of the United States of America," was another comment. "He grew up with American culture, which is fundamentally different from the Chinese one in terms of life and world values. If anyone wishes he could help China with anything based on his skin color, then it just means how ignorant the person is."
Locke said yesterday that the two countries could solve many of the world's problems if their governments worked together more.
At the news briefing with his family by his side, Locke said the two countries could provide global leadership. He did not directly mention the bilateral issues that are likely to feature in talks between the two, such as human rights and trade, according to the Associated Press.
Locke's previous role as US commerce secretary was one that involved heavy interaction with China - America's largest trade partner? and often involved conflicts over such matters as trade barriers, protectionism and currency issues.
Locke told reporters yesterday that he would try to promote greater understanding between the nations.
"Certainly there are many challenges facing both China and America," he said. "But if our people, our business people, our scientists, our students can really join together, we can solve not just the challenges and problems facing each of our countries, we can actually solve many of the problems facing the entire world."
Feeling "humbled and honored" to be the first Chinese-American to become the top China envoy, Locke assured China its investments in dollars would be safe despite the recent downgrading of the US credit rating.
"We know that over the last several days more people are buying US Treasuries," Locke, formerly the US commerce secretary, said in response to a question. "It's a clear indication that investment in the United States is safe, secure and that the economy, while having its challenges, is still strong."
Locke, who doesn't speak Chinese, has been described in the Chinese media as a US politician who is tough on China's trade policies. He once pledged he would do everything he could to press China to open its market to more US goods and services.
But this tough image was somewhat softened on the way to his new job. Pictures of Locke lining up to buy coffee at the Seattle airport were posted on the Internet. There were no bodyguards or assistants, as many Chinese would have expected.
Locke also won praise for carrying his own luggage and sitting with his family in an ordinary business vehicle instead of a luxury sedan when they arrived in Beijing last Friday.
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