New ambassador new hope

Gary Locke's appointment is a sign that US president Barack Obama is seeking to further improve relations with China

As the first Chinese American to hold Washington's ambassadorial post to China, Gary Locke was warmly welcomed when he arrived in Beijing on Friday evening. Many in China hope his Chinese ancestry will help him be a bridge between China and the United States and between the two peoples.

However, we should not pin too many hopes on him adopting a more pro-China approach than his predecessors because of his ancestry. As US ambassador to China, Locke will work to serve the US national interests.