On August 22, 2009, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei met with new U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.

During the meeting, He said that Ambassador Huntsman assumed his new office at a very significant stage for the development of China-U.S. relations. Since President Obama took office, China-U.S. relations have got off to a good start and maintained a positive momentum of development with joint efforts of both sides. During their successful meeting in London, President Hu Jintao and President Obama decided to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century, marking that China-U.S. relations have entered a new phase. The first round of China-U.S. strategic and economic dialogue was held successfully in Washington, pushing bilateral ties to a new level. Bilateral relations are at a new historical starting point and face an important opportunity for further development. Both sides should continue joint efforts to enhance dialogue, expand exchanges, build mutual trust and deepen cooperation. Both sides should also respect and accommodate each other's core interests and push their relations for sustained, sound and stable development. He hoped that Ambassador Huntsman will play a positive role in this regard.

Huntsman said he was greatly honored to be able to assume such an important post as U.S. Ambassador to China. He pledged to immediately devote himself to pushing forward U.S.-China relations and play a positive role in expanding bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation. The U.S.-China relations are of great importance and deserve to be carefully maintained and carried forward with all-out efforts.

On the morning of the same day, Huntsman presented a copy of the credentials to Director-General of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zhang Kunsheng.