(For more coverage of Obama's Asia trip, click [nOBAMAASIA])

* Jobs, push for exports to be a focus on nine-day tour

* Beijing's signal on currencies may give Obama a boost

* Asian countries may push back at Obama's trade message

* Obama says to discuss strategy for balanced growth (Updates with Obama's departure for Tokyo)

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama left for Asia on Thursday with the U.S. economy, jobs and a yawning trade deficit with China looming large on his agenda.

Global climate change, the North Korean and Iranian nuclear disputes and Obama's review of his Afghanistan strategy are also major topics for his talks with the Chinese and other officials on the first trip to Asia of his presidency.

"I will be meeting with leaders abroad to discuss a strategy for growth that is both balanced and broadly shared," Obama said at the White House before departing for Japan, underlining the economic focus of his week-long trip.