Baucus can make a difference

However, an ambassador's role in the making of Washington's China policy depends on their personal influence and connections within the US political circle and their knowledge of China. In this regard, Baucus is in a better position than many previous ambassadors to China. In his 40-year career, he has forged extensive connections. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, he presided over the adoption and promulgation of free trade agreements with 11 countries. Over the past three years he has visited Germany, Spain, Belgium, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil, Colombia and China. He was being somewhat modest when said that he was "no real expert on China", as he is quite familiar with the country. He visited China as a college student 50 years ago. And since his first formal visit to China in 1993, he has visited the country eight times. He has worked to strengthen US-China relations through economic diplomacy, such as encouraging China to join the world trade regime and supporting permanent normal trade relations with China and China's WTO membership. In his Jan 28, testimony to the US Congress, he said that he believed that "a strong geopolitical relationship can be born out of a strong economic relationship". And he said that US-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world and must be properly handled.

An extensive economic relationship between the two countries will have tangible benefits for both their peoples. In 2013, two-way trade in goods and services exceeded $500 billion. China and the US are re-opening the negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty and there are many items on the priority list or deserving serious consideration, such as China's status as a market economy, FTA negotiations and US approaches towards China on the question of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

But while Baucus' arrival as the new ambassador is a good news for China-US economic relations, its significance goes beyond that. Baucus can also help also guide the US towards recognizing and encouraging China's positive role in the shifting international order. With rich political experience in handling security affairs, Baucus can also start working to promote comprehensive and constructive cooperation with China on security issues.

The author is vice president of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.www.chinausfocus.com