* Many issues on U.S.-China agenda
* U.S. officials also will visit Japan
Steinberg heads to Asia as Washington deals with a host of disagreements with Beijing, including computer hacking attacks that have been linked to China on foreign firms including Internet search giant Google Inc (GOOG.O).
Also causing friction was Washington's decision in January to announce it would sell $6.4 billion in arms to Taiwan, the self-ruled island China claims as its own.
Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan leader who China reviles as a separatist for demanding self-rule for his homeland.
When asked about the United States on Saturday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao did not dwell on conflicts between the two countries but instead expressed hope that trade frictions would ease.
Wen said China is not deliberately seeking a trade surplus with the United States and renewed his call for Washington to drop restrictions on sales of high-technology products so China can buy more than soybeans and aircraft -- two of its main imports from the United States.
On this Asia trip, Steinberg will be accompanied by Jeffrey Bader, senior director for the U.S. National Security Council for Asian Affairs. They will depart on Monday and meet with Chinese officials in Beijing from Tuesday through Thursday.
They will meet with senior officials in Tokyo on Thursday and Friday.
A disagreement between Washington and Tokyo over the relocation of the Futenma Marine base on Okinawa is eroding support for Japan's governing Democratic Party and setting its coalition partners at odds ahead of an expected July election.
The top U.S. Marine in the Pacific, Lieutenant General Keith Stalder, said on Feb. 19 that his forced need to stay on Okinawa for strategic reasons. There have been suggestions that the Marine base be moved to Guam or the tiny island of Tinian. (Writing by Deborah Zabarenko; Editing by Bill Trott)
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