Washington » The Senate has twice confirmed Jon Huntsman Jr. without a hint of controversy and it appears the new nominee to be U.S. ambassador to China is attracting support on both sides of the aisle -- and on the other side of the globe.
The Chinese government said it was looking forward to working with Huntsman if he's confirmed for the post. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the United States had sought its opinion on the nomination through diplomatic channels.
"We hope that a new appointee will play a positive role and work to the advantage of the development of bilateral relations in a new era and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples," a ministry spokesman said.
Members of the U.S. Senate, meanwhile, are heaping praise on President Barack Obama's nominee.
"In selecting Governor Huntsman, the president made an excellent choice for a challenging position," Sen. Ted Kaufman, a Delaware Democrat and member of the Foreign Relations Committee said Monday. "Governor Huntsman is uniquely qualified and brings broad experience to this critical post. I'm looking forward to working with him."
The Foreign Relations Committee, headed by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., is expected to take up Huntsman's nomination this summer.
Neither Kerry nor Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar, the panel's ranking Republican, commented on the nomination Monday.
But others had nothing but positive reaction to Huntsman, who speaks Mandarin Chinese and is steeped in knowledge of Asian affairs. Huntsman previously served as U.S. ambassador to Singapore and as deputy U.S. trade ambassador.
"While his nomination is certainly a loss for the citizens of Utah, Governor Huntsman is exceptionally qualified to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to China," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican who is a ranking member on the East Asian and Pacific Affairs subcommittee.
"I believe he will be an incredible asset to our nation in this new role, and I hope the Foreign Relations Committee moves his nomination quickly."
Sen. James E. Risch, an Idaho Republican who previously served as his state's chief executive, said he believes Huntsman is an excellent leader.
"I strongly favor Governor Huntsman's nomination as ambassador to China," said Risch, also a member of the committee. "With his connections and depth of understanding of China, he is the right person for the job."
