Under pressure from US manufacturers who say China is costing them business and jobs, President George W. Bush will make a personal appeal to Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday to begin letting the market determine the value of the yuan currency.
But just as in Japan earlier in the week, Bush was unlikely to win any firm commitments that China would let the value of the currency rise, a change which would help US exporters compete in markets flooded with cheap Chinese goods.
North Korea's nuclear weapons programme will also top the agenda for the hour-long meeting with Hu during Bush's visit to Thailand, where the leaders are attending a summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
"The president attaches a tremendous amount of importance to the role that China can play in seeking a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue," a senior administration official said.
Before meeting with Hu, Bush will meet the Thai prime minister, a close Asian ally in the US war on terrorism.
Washington is expected to reward Bangkok's support by speeding up trade talks and designating Thailand a major non-NATO ally, making it easier for it to buy US military equipment.
Bush has come under mounting pressure from members of Congress and from US manufacturers -- a critical base of support in the run-up to next year's presidential election - to get China and Japan to stop trying to weaken their currencies.
In China's case, the administration wants Beijing to loosen its currency regime, which pegs the Chinese yuan to the dollar. US officials argue that the fixed peg renders Chinese exports cheaper, making it hard for American companies to compete.