WASHINGTON - Nominee for the next US ambassador to China and the current US Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke, vowed on Thursday that he will work to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between China and the United States.

"In doing so, I will support our ongoing efforts to expand bilateral cooperation on a host of critical international issues, from climate change to stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapon and materials," Locke said at the nomination hearing held by the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

He said he will support enhanced exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples, especially between the youth, which was described by him as "so important" to the long-term mutual understanding.

"If confirmed, helping US companies do more business in China will be a big part of what I do every day as ambassador," said Locke.

He believed that improved US-China cooperation is "critical" to the world and there is "so much" the two countries can accomplish when they work together.

"While the US and China will inevitably have differences from time to time, it is far from pre-ordained that those differences should lead to conflict," he said.

He also said that if confirmed, he will continue to work with China on issues on Korean peninsula and Iran.

Locke was formally nominated by US President Barack Obama on March 9 as the next US ambassador to China. If confirmed by the US senate, he will become the first Chinese-American ambassador to China.