His arrival in China marks the latest stage of his eight-day Asian tour. During the trip President Obama has confirmed his commitment to strengthening ties with the region's superpower.

His visit comes amid growing trade tensions, with China accusing Washington of protectionism after banning various Chinese-made products.

Chinese state media outlets have asked the public to submit questions for Mr Obama in Shanghai.

A spokesman for the US Embassy in Beijing said that the town hall meeting is likely to be broadcast only on local television channels, scuppering US hopes that it would be shown nationwide on Chinese television.

President Obama is due to meet the Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Tuesday, where talks will cover economic imbalances, concerns over Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the efforts to tackle climate change.

Mr Obama has also signalled that he will raise the subject of human rights concerns in Beijing, but did not mention any specific issues, such as Tibet.