New US ambassador vows to strengthen business ties

Strengthening Sino-US business ties and ensuring a level playing field for US business is one of his three main goals in China, the new US Ambassador to China Max Baucus said on Tuesday in his first press conference in Beijing since taking office in February.

"The first is to strengthen our economic relationship with China in a way that is mutually beneficial and ensures a level playing field for American businesses and workers to compete fairly with their Chinese counterparts," Baucus said.

Baucus, who succeeds Gary Locke, helped steer trade policy with China as chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, taking a firm stance against some of China's trade practices. He also led US efforts in the 1990s to aid China's admission to the World Trade Organization, according to Reuters.

He also hopes to work with China on tackling global challenges.

"We're also urging China to support the laws, the norms, values and human rights that undergird the current international system from which we all benefit," he said.

His third goal is to promote the strength of people-to-people diplomacy.

Citing Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks, he said that the common interests between the US and China are bigger than the differences. He also pledged to put efforts into strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Baucus called the Sino-US relationship one of the most import bilateral relationships to the US, at the same time adding that the two countries should cooperate more on issues related to regional safety, climate change, clear power and disease control.