Leaders of top United States-based companies have urged President Barack Obama to make the China-US Bilateral Investment Treaty a top priority when he meets with President Xi Jinping next month.

The US-China Business Council on Wednesday released a letter signed by 51 corporate heads that was sent to Obama. The two presidents will meet informally after Obama attends the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing on Nov 10-11.

USCBC President John Frisbie said the letter is "a strong message" to the White House from America's business leaders in support of the investment treaty.