The U.S. Ambassador to China, Max Sieben Baucus, is an avid user of the Chinese messaging app WeChat, disclosing that he frequently contacted his counterpart Cui Tiankai through the app during an investment reception held at the Chinese Embassy in the United States Tuesday evening.

Baucus said he picked up WeChat in 2014 when he embarked on his diplomatic mission in China and now has become a “WeChat nut” in his speech delivered at the reception held by the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. and the China General Chamber of Commerce.

He also joked with the chairwoman of the event Wu Xi, Deputy Chief of the Chinese diplomatic mission, that he’d tell Ambassador Cui that he does a good job through WeChat. (Cui was not present at the reception).

Baucus said in his speech that he had been to almost all the provinces of China. Communicating with ordinary people offers him a better understanding of China, he said.

His wife is also fond of China and has even bought a car and gotten a driving license.

Baucus said he feels happy living and working in China.

The investment summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce was held in Washington, attracting about 150 entrepreneurs from the Chinese mainland and 20 from Hong Kong seeking development opportunities in the U.S.

He closed by saying in his two years in China, he’s realized there are lots of similarities between the two people, which helps to strengthen bilateral ties.

Story by China Daily