A prestigious post for Utah governor
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Standing beside U.S. President Barack Obama at a White House press conference in Washington, D.C., Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. explained on May 16 why — if confirmed — he would accept the prestigious and influential post as U.S. ambassador to China.
"I grew up understanding that the most basic responsibility one has is service to country," said Gov, Huntsman, a Latter-day Saint. "When the president of the United States asks you to step up and serve in a capacity like this, that to me is the end of the conversation and the beginning of the obligation to rise to the challenge.... I wasn't looking for a new job in life, but a call from the president changed that."
At the press conference, President Obama described the importance of the post.
"There are few countries in the world with a past so rich or a future so full of possibilities as China. With a vast population, growing economy and far-reaching influence, China will have a crucial role in confronting all the major challenges that face Asia and the world in the years ahead," the president said.
Gov. Huntsman, 49, served as a missionary in Taiwan from 1979 to 1981 and is fluent in Mandarin and speaks other Chinese dialects. He returned to Asia in 1992, serving as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Singapore.
In addition, he and his wife, Mary Kaye, adopted one of their seven children from China.
"I've always been fascinated with government service in general. I've always been taught that it's a very worthwhile cause to serve your Church and your country," he told the Church News in 1993.
Gov. Huntsman said he is committed to taking the relationship of China and the U.S. to new heights and quoted a Chinese aphorism, "Together we work, together we progress."
Eric Hyer, a BYU professor in political science and international relations, said he is very excited about the nomination. "It will be very good to have a person with a trade/business background in that job."
He said the appointment also says a lot about President Obama's willingness to pursue a bipartisan foreign policy.
Gov. Huntsman attended the University of Utah and holds a bachelor's degree in international politics from the University of Pennsylvania.
In 2008, he was elected to serve a second term as Utah governor. A Republican, he has also served as national co-chairman of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign; former chairman and chief executive of Huntsman Family Holdings Co.; former president of Huntsman Cancer Foundation; deputy U.S. trade ambassador, 2001-03; ambassador to Singapore, 1992-93; deputy assistant commerce secretary, Trade Development Bureau, 1989-90; deputy commerce secretary for East Asia and the Pacific; and White House staff assistant in the Reagan administration.
"It is in the spirit of placing country before self or politics that I have accepted the request and nomination by President Obama, and with the consent of the United States Senate, to serve as United States ambassador to China," he said.
Church leaders responded to the appointment with a short statement: "We warmly congratulate the governor and wish him well in his new assignment," said Church spokesman Scott Trotter.
