Beijing  - The following are some key issues in Sino-US relations ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to China, November 15 to 18.

Trade imbalances: For years, China has boasted large export surpluses with the United States, while US companies say they have only limited access to the Chinese market. The US claims China keeps its currency, the yuan, artificially undervalued to make its exports cheaper. During the global economic crisis, trade-related tensions between the two nations were ramped up over mutual accusations of dumping and protectionism.

Global downturn: China is demanding a greater say for developing countries in talks on reforming the global financial system. China, the world's third-largest economy, has shown a strong response to the downturn. The government's 4-trillion-yuan (590-billion-dollar) infrastructure-centred spending package helped China's gross domestic product grow 7.7 per cent in the first three quarters of the year.

Climate change: China and the United States are the world's biggest polluters. However, analysts do not expect Obama's visit to lead to a concrete deal on cutting emissions ahead of the Copenhagen world climate summit in December. China insists that the US and other rich industrialized nations must act first. It has, however, introduced measures to cut its energy usage. (dpa)