As Barack Obama, US president, considers a final decision on whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, his visit to Beijing next week will be a chance to press China to become more involved in the conflict.

Since the start of 2009, the Obama administration has encouraged Beijing to become more engaged in Afghanistan, according to diplomats, officials and academics briefed on the discussions, with options such as greater humanitarian assistance and sending military police to help train the Afghan police force. Beijing already trains Afghan forces in China to tackle the drugs trade.

The increased US lobbying comes at a time of growing realisation in Beijing that its interests would be damaged by a US withdrawal and Taliban victory.

Richard Holbrooke, the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, visited Beijing in April for talks and there have been a string of contacts since then. Some of Mr Holbrooke's aides were in Beijing yesterday, ahead of Mr Obama's arrival on Sunday. The Obama administration, which wants China to be a partner on many global issues, had hoped to arrange an “inter-agency” meeting for Chinese officials in Washington for briefings by the different US government departments involved in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, this has yet to take place. The US also hopes Beijing will use its influence with Pakistan towards shared strategic goals.

“This is a golden opportunity for China to be seen by the west to be on the same side,” said David Shambaugh, a China expert at George Washington University, who added that China should consider both civilian assistance, such as building infrastructure, and police training. “It is a test case of whether China will become a real partner.”

However, he acknowledged the high levels of resistance and scepticism, especially among the Chinese military. On a visit to China's National Defence University in 2001 on the day US military operations began in Afghanistan, a general there warned him: “You will never get out.”

Although China recognises the damage a US withdrawal would do to its interests there, it is reluctant to play an active role.

“The expectations in the US that China will send armed police to Afghanistan, that is too much for China,” says Jin Canrong, professor of international relations at Renmin University of China. “It is possible China will send more money, but armed men? No way.”