WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration picked Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Vice Chairman Robert Hormats to be the State Department's undersecretary for economic, energy and agricultural affairs, the White House announced Friday.

Mr. Hormats, if confirmed by the Senate, will buttress Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's campaign to use economic, trade and environmental issues to redefine Washington's relationship with nations such as China, India and Russia, said administration officials.

Mr. Hormats also will play a central role in managing Washington's "strategic and economic dialogue" with Beijing, a diplomatic exchange overseen by Mrs. Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The first Obama administration U.S.-China dialogue is slated for this month in Washington, according to the State Department.

Mr. Hormats "will be key in Secretary Clinton's efforts to bring more visibility to the work of the department on economic matters," a senior U.S. official said Friday.

Mr. Hormats said he couldn't comment -- standard practice for nominees before and during the confirmation process.