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New U.S. Ambassador Vows to Push China on Trade

Max Baucus says he will seek "level playing field" for American businesses and workers.
Image: U.S. Ambassador to China Baucus adjusts his glasses in front of Chinese and American national flags during a news conference at the U.S. Embassy, upon his arrival to his new post, in Beijing
U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus adjusts his glasses in front of Chinese and American national flags during a news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, March 18, 2014.PETAR KUJUNDZIC / Reuters

New U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus embraced the increasingly intertwined relationship between the two countries on Tuesday, saying he would push for fair trade while urging Beijing to respect human rights.

Meeting with journalists Tuesday less than 24 hours after arriving in Beijing, Baucus said the U.S.-China relationship is one of the world's most crucial.

"We simply must get it right," the former senator from Montana said.

Underscoring both the opportunities and barriers for U.S. businesses in the China market, Baucus said he wants to promote trade "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."

— The Associated Press