WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama reached across the political divide Saturday and named Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman to the sensitive diplomatic post of U.S. ambassador to China.

Fluent in Mandarin Chinese from his days as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan, the 49-year-old Huntsman is a popular two-term governor who served in both Bush administrations and was national co-chairman of Arizona Sen. McCain's presidential campaign against Obama last year.

Huntsman has made a name for himself advocating a moderate agenda in one of the nation's most conservative states.

With Huntsman by his side, Obama said in the White House Diplomatic Room that he made the appointment "mindful of its extraordinary significance. Given the breadth of issues at stake in our relationship with China, this ambassadorship is as important as any in the world because the United States will best be able to deal effectively with global challenges in the 21st century by working in concert with China."

"I knew that because Jon is not only a Republican, but a Republican who cochaired my opponent's campaign for the presidency this wouldn't be an easiest decision to explain to some members of his party." Obama said. "But here is what I also know: I know Jon is the kind of leader that always puts country ahead of party."

Huntsman said, "I grew up understanding that the most basic responsibility one has is service to country. When the president of the United States asks you to step up and serve in a capacity like this, that to me is the end of the conversation and the beginning of the obligation to rise to the challenge."