China said Monday it hoped the new US ambassador would help develop a "new era" of relations between the two nations, two days after President Barack Obama unveiled his pick to the critical post.

Obama revealed Saturday he had chosen Jon Huntsman, the current governor of Utah, a rising Republican star and a fluent Mandarin speaker, to take up the posting in Beijing -- one of the most important for the United States.

"We hope the new ambassador to China will play a positive role in promoting the development of a new era of Sino-US relations and friendship between the two peoples," the foreign ministry said in a statement faxed to AFP.

Relations between the two nations have taken on rising importance in the last decade as China has embraced its role as a leading global economy and has pushed for regional security amid tense standoffs with North Korea.

But Huntsman, the Mormon son of a billionaire chemical businessman, will face tough challenges in his new position on issues such as trade and human rights.

Huntsman, who was a national campaign co-chair of Obama's rival John McCain in the 2008 election, and had plans to run for president in 2012, replaces the current long-serving US envoy Clark Randt.

Huntsman's father, Jon M. Huntsman is the founder and chairman of the Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer of chemicals which according to the China Daily operates a factory in Shanghai.

He and his wife Mary Kaye have seven children, including two daughters adopted from China and India.