U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman (R) listens to a question at a news briefing about U.S. President Barack Obama's upcoming China visit in Beijing on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. [Photo: CNSphoto]

U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to China next week would solidify the U.S.-China relationship, U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman said on Wednesday.

At a news briefing in Beijing, Huntsman said Obama would be engaged in political and diplomatic discussions in China, which were "really the central pieces of his visit."

The visit would "continue the most important bilateral relationship in the world by taking it to new heights and solidifying the relationship," Huntsman said.

The topics for discussion between Obama and Chinese leaders included the global economy, free trade, regional security, clean energy and climate change, he said.

Obama will visit China from Nov. 15 to 18 as part of his Asia tour. It will be his first visit to China since he taking office.

Huntsman said Obama also wanted to enjoy the cultural aspect of his visit, and he would have opportunities to visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

Obama will arrive in Shanghai on Sunday after attending the APEC meeting in Singapore and will be accompanied by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, the ambassador said.

Huntsman said frictions such as recent trade disputes were inevitable given the size of bilateral economic engagement, but it was important for both sides to seek solutions through proper channels.

"You can't expect a relationship this size to be free and devoid of such issues," and when frictions arose, both sides should "put that in a rules-based system and then seek solutions," he said.

"Our growth over the last 30 years has brought us to the point where we can manage these trade challenges without poisoning or affecting the totality of our bilateral relationship," he said.