Former US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has replaced Jon Huntsman, who resigned in April to run for US presidency. He was sworn in on Monday as the US new ambassador to China.

He said, "The United States and China have a profoundly important and complex diplomatic, economic and strategic bilateral relationship - one with challenges, no question, but one which also holds great promise for extended cooperation and collaboration. I look forward to working with the Chinese government to fulfil that promise, but more importantly, to build the positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship that President Obama and President Hu have agreed that our two countries should aspire to."

"With my family – my wife Mona and our children Emily, Dylan, and Madeline – we're excited to have this opportunity to serve the President and the people of the United States of America," he said.