Locke, the commerce secretary who would be the first Chinese-American ambassador to Beijing, enjoyed an unusually friendly reception at his Senate hearing, with lawmakers saying he was virtually sure to win confirmation.

Locke said he would use his personal story to reach out to ordinary Chinese about the United States, but not shy away from sensitive issues, including his "vigorous disagreement" with Beijing's leaders over human rights.

"The protection and the promotion of liberty and freedom are fundamental tenets of US foreign policy, and if confirmed, I will clearly and firmly advocate for upholding universal rights in China," Locke said.

In more detailed prepared remarks, Locke pointed to leading Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, whose social commentary had been largely tolerated but who was seized as Beijing mounts its most sweeping crackdown on dissent in years.

"The detention of artist and activist Ai Weiwei raises many issues about China's commitment to building a society based on the rule of law," Locke wrote, pledging to raise individual cases at the highest levels in China.

Locke, pointing to his work in President Barack Obama's cabinet, said he would also fight for US businesses by pressing for protection of intellectual property and for the right of foreign firms to compete for government contracts.

Under questioning by senators, Locke said he would put a top priority on non-proliferation and that Beijing "can, definitely, and must do more" to rein in North Korea -- whose reclusive leader Kim Jong-Il just visited China.

Senators also voiced concerns about China's military strength against Taiwan and the value of its currency, which critics accuse Beijing of keeping artificially low to boost exports.

Locke recognized that China has let the yuan appreciate but said: "We, of course, think that it would float more and faster."

Appearing with his wife and three children, Locke touched on his own story. He grew up in Seattle's housing projects where he did not speak English and worked his way through university to become a prosecutor and governor.

Locke's grandfather first came to the United States on a steamboat and worked for a family as their house-boy in return for English lessons.

"China is a nation they would hardly recognize from their childhoods," Locke, who has traveled frequently to China, said of his ancestors.

"It's a country filled with ultra-modern cities, where hundreds of millions have been lifted out of poverty. The administration welcomes a strong, prosperous and successful China," Locke said.

"But this new status comes with important responsibilities. This administration seeks to engage China on regional and global affairs to advance international peace and stability in ways consistent with prevailing international norms, rules and institutions," he said.

Locke would replace Jon Huntsman, a Chinese-speaking former governor of Utah, who resigned as ambassador as he mulls challenging Obama for the presidency in next year's election.

While many US lawmakers are critical of China, Locke is personally popular in Congress and his confirmation hearing had none of the sharp partisan exchanges that are commonplace in Washington.

Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he expected Locke to win confirmation.

Kerry encouraged Locke to raise human rights, saying that the wave of pro-democracy protests that has swept the Middle East showed that it was in governments' best interests to allow fundamental freedoms.

"Even though China has one of the longest histories on the planet and one of the richest histories on the planet, and even though it has vast global trading networks today and it is the world's second-largest economy, it still lags behind many nations in its respect for basic human rights," Kerry said.

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