A week ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to China, a team of US officials is in Beijing to discuss about Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Chinese authorities.

"I can confirm that there is a team from Ambassador (Richard) Holbrooke's (Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan) office in Beijing for discussions with Chinese officials on both Pakistan and Afghanistan," US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, P J Crowley, said at a news briefing.

"We were looking at how these countries fit in a broader regional context," Crowley said, without giving any detail of the trip by the officials to China on Afghanistan and Pakistan.