US President Barack Obama has nominated Utah governor Jon Huntsman, a Republican and a fluent Chinese speaker, as ambassador to China.

"This ambassadorship is as important as any in the world because the United States will best be able to deal effectively with the global challenges of the 21st century by working in concert with China," Obama said at the White House ceremony on Saturday with Huntsman standing¹ beside him.

He also said there was "much to be gained by a closer, working relationship with China" and that he could think of no one better suited for the job than Huntsman.

Huntsman, who has a good command of Putonghua, will - once confirmed by the Senate - succeed Clark T. Randt, who left the post on Jan 21 after an eight-year tenure², the longest since 1979.

Chinese experts call the Obama pick a "surprise" as well as a "smart move", which shows commitment to a bipartisan foreign policy.

Obama explained the bipartisan nature of the nomination³ by describing Huntsman as "the kind of leader who always puts country ahead of party".

The appointment could also mean that Huntsman - widely considered a leading Republican contender for the 2012 presidential election - would not be in the race should Obama stand again.

Huntsman has served in Republican administrations and was co-chairman of Senator John McCain's losing presidential campaign last year.

Son of a Utah multimillionaire and philanthropist, Huntsman established his political credentials⁴ as a White House staff assistant to president Ronald Reagan, ambassador to Singapore under president George Bush in 1992 and deputy trade representative under president George W. Bush in 2001.

He has been the governor of Utah since 2004, and won a second term in 2008 with 77 percent of the vote.

Questions:

1. What is the name of the Utah Governor that US President Obama nominated to be his ambassador to China?

2. How long did the last US ambassador to China occupy the job for?

3. How did Obama describe Governor Huntsman?

Answers:

1. Jon Huntsman.

2. 8 years.

3. The kind of leader who always puts country ahead of party.