SOUTH CHINA SEA TERRITORIAL DISPUTES

Beijing and Washington will use the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) to suss out each other's bottom line, to avoid accidental conflict in the region, with tensions set to rise after an impending ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on a case against China's territorial claims.

BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATY

The proposed pact aimed at expanding market access for both sides has undergone 24 rounds of negotiations and is targeted for conclusion before US President Barack Obama leaves office next January.

G-20 LEADERS' SUMMIT

The S&ED will discuss ways to improve Sino-US policy coordination at the Group of Twenty (G-20) summit taking place in the Chinese city of Hangzhou from Sept 4-5, to help boost flagging global growth.

CHINA'S ECONOMIC REFORMS

The US wants to press China into speeding up its economic reforms, such as cutting excess production capacity, with massive Chinese steel exports having hurt global markets and caused job loss.

CLIMATE CHANGE

China and the US, the world's two largest emitters of carbon dioxide, will discuss issues impacting the environment and ways to boost innovation in energy usage.

TAIWAN

Beijing will seek to dissuade the US from supporting any Taiwanese independence efforts that might intensify, with the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party in power since May.

NORTH KOREA

Washington will discuss with Beijing - regarded as Pyongyang's patron - ways to pressure the North into giving up its nuclear arms.

Kor Kian Beng