WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - President Barack Obama on Friday announced he will name United States Senator Max Baucus, who has long worked on China trade and economic issues, as his next ambassador to Beijing, underscoring the importance of commercial ties with the Asian power.

Mr Baucus has taken a tough stance against some of China's trade practices but also led successful US efforts in the 1990s to admit China to the World Trade Organization and to begin normal trade relations with Beijing. The Montanan had announced he would not seek reelection in November.