With both sides professing a desire to work together, few expect any fireworks when Obama meets with Hu on Wednesday in London on the eve of the Group of 20 summit on the global economic crisis.

But under the surface, Hu and Obama will likely be trying to read the air between them as world's most populous and most powerful countries figure out the right relationship.

Just a week before the summit, China's central bank chief made an unexpected call to replace the dollar as the international reserve currency -- a symbol of US dominance dating from World War II.

The proposal came shortly after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, with unusual bluntness, said that China -- the biggest holder of US Treasuries -- is concerned about the "safety of our assets" due to the US recession.

"I think China is putting the US and the world on notice that the globe no longer revolves around Washington and that a new era is dawning," said Ralph Cossa, head of the Pacific Forum of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

China has been particularly active on Tibet, stepping up efforts to isolate the region's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace laureate, is widely respected in the United States. When Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited Washington earlier this month to prepare Hu's summit, Obama nudged him on human rights in Tibet.

"Beijing's heavy-handed approach toward Tibet in general and the Dalai Lama in particular ensure that this will become an issue, even if it flies under the radar at this first meeting," Cossa said.

Still, Cossa expected the meeting between Hu and Obama to be cordial.

"The Chinese want to be seen as a US equal and as an important partner -- there is little to be gained by trying to show up Obama," Cossa said.

Obama's predecessor George W. Bush, while deeply unpopular at home and in much of the world, was embraced by the Chinese leadership which credited him with giving Beijing room to grow on the world stage.

China had been more nervous about Obama, fearing that the Democratic leader would press the giant emerging economy harder on trade issues.

The Obama administration has signalled it hopes for a broader relationship with China. It has cited climate change -- a key priority for Obama -- as a major area in which the two countries can cooperate.

Nina Hachigian, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, said that under Bush, the US relationship with China focused purely on the economy.

"I think with Bush they really knew what they were getting and they were comfortable with that," Hachigian said. "I think they are still trying to figure out where the Obama administration is going."

She said China, which by many measures has overtaken the United States as the largest carbon emitter, may have preferred Bush's reluctance to take strong measures on climate change.

"To be a responsible player on climate issues -- we might see that policy as being more welcoming of a stronger China, but from their point of view, all that responsibility can be daunting," she said.

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