Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is on a five-day visit to the U.S., to prepare for President Hu Jintao's state visit to the country later this month.

Yang met with U.S. President Barack Obama, and other officials and lawmakers. Trade imbalances and Korean peninsula tensions top their wide-ranging agenda, which will likely be the focus of the upcoming state visit.

Yang Jiechi's tour to the U.S. is seen as preparation for President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visit.

He met with US. .President Barack Obama on Tuesday, highlighting the importance of Sino-U.S. ties. He expressed China's willingness to push for a positive and cooperative relationship with America, and urged close communication between the two sides.

Obama says he is looking forward to President Hu's visit, and is pledging U.S. efforts to work with China on expanding cooperation, and dealing with global challenges.

Despite many common interests, differences still remain. A trade imbalance and a currency issue topped the agenda during Yang's meeting with U.S. President Obama's national security advisor Tom Donilon.

The U.S. believes China undervalues its yuan currency, giving it an unfair trade advantage. China denies that claim. Donilon is stressing the importance of reducing the trade imbalance to Yang, which will likely be featured in the upcoming presidential summit.

Tensions over the Korean Peninsula also loom large. China is urging all sides to act calmly and return to talks while the U.S. insisted to add pressure on Pyongyang by flexing its muscles.

Despite their differences, Yang and Donilon focused on ways to work together on the issue of a nuclear-free Peninsula, which will be discussed more between President Obama and Hu Jintao.

The Chinese Foreign Minister also exchanged views with U.S. law makers. He is stressing the progress in bilateral exchanges, saying better Sino-U.S. ties will benefit regional and world peace.

(CNTV.cn January 6, 2011)