FACTBOX-Obama picks Huntsman as U.S. ambassador to China

May 16 - U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday named Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. to be the next U.S. ambassador to China, a pivotal post in relations between the United States and a major emerging economic power.

It is a delicate relationship with potential for conflict around a wide range of issues such as currency exchange rates, trade, human rights, the environment, and U.S. debt finance.

Here are some details about Huntsman:

* Born March 26, 1960, in Palo Alto, California

* Elected to a second term as Republican governor of Utah in November 2008

* Served as a White House staff assistant to President Ronald Reagan

* Was Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under President George W. Bush

* Fluent in Mandarin after a stint as a missionary in Taiwan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons

* Was the youngest U.S. ambassador in a century when he was named envoy to Singapore in 1992

* Has seven children, including adopted daughters from China and India

* Family business, Huntsman Corp, is one of the largest chemical companies in the world. It was granted approval in 2002 to build a plant in Shanghai

* Gave a 2006 speech on U.S.-China relations at Shanghai Normal University where he stressed the importance of moving beyond "nationalistic prowess" on matters of trade and environmental well-being