WASHINGTON, D.C. — (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) — President Obama today designated Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary Christopher Lu to join Education Secretary Arne Duncan as co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The Initiative was created to help expand and improve AAPI access to federal services and protections. Lu replaces former Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who had co-chaired the White House Initiative before becoming the U.S. Ambassador to China.

Lu’s appointment comes as the Initiative is set to mark the two-year anniversary of its reauthorization by President Obama on Friday, October 14. Lu will join White House AAPI Initiative director Kiran Ahuja on a conference call with reporters on Tuesday to outline the Initiative’s accomplishments and a vision for its future. They will also preview the Initiative’s major anniversary events this month on the call.

President Obama today also announced his intent to appoint Olympic skating champion Apolo Ohno, Professor May Chen and Dr. Tung Thanh Nguyen to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. They will join 17 other members of the Commission to provide advice to President Obama and the co-chairs of the White House Initiative, and to help improve the quality of life and expand opportunities for AAPIs.

“When the Initiative was reinstated by President Obama, our communities didn’t face just a small hill of problems, they faced a massive mountain of challenges, but we’ve clearly started to climb and will continue to do so,” said Ahuja. “While we miss Ambassador Locke’s leadership, if there’s anyone who can fill his shoes, it’s Chris Lu. As a senior advisor to the President and the entire Cabinet, he’s been very involved with the Initiative’s work from Day One. We couldn’t have created our historic partnership and plans to increase access across the federal government without him.”

“As our Commissioners continue to engage communities across the country, our new members will help us move deeper conversations with more constituents,” said Daphne Kwok, chair of the President’s AAPI Advisory Commission. “We’re looking to move the conversation about critical issues to the next level with diverse groups, and their voices and expertise will help us bring together more people.” ‘)}