* Sept exports +25.1 pct y/y (f/c +25.5 pct) vs +34.4 pct Aug
* Imports +24.1 pct y/y (f/c +23.7 pct) vs +35.2 pct Aug
* Trade surplus $16.9 bln (f/c $18.0 bln) vs $20.0 Aug
* Graphic: http://link.reuters.com/hat28p
By Kevin Yao and Langi Chiang
BEIJING, Oct 13 (Reuters) - China could breathe a slight sigh of relief after its politically contentious trade surplus narrowed in September and resilient import growth showed that the economy remained a bright spot in a bleak global landscape.
But with the surplus still hefty and export growth also well into double-digit territory, there will likely be little easing in foreign calls for China to let its currency rise more quickly.
"The trade surplus is smaller than expected, but pressure from the United States for yuan revaluation will remain strong because it is an election year," said Thio Chin Thio, a currency strategist with BNP Paribas in Singapore.
Beijing did what it could to cast the latest figures in a flattering light ahead of a U.S. decision due on Friday about whether to formally declare for the first time that China manipulates its currency.
In its release of the data, the General Administration of Customs noted that the trade surplus was at a five-month low and that month-on-month import growth hit a record high.
"Stronger-than-expected import growth shows that China's economy is increasingly relying on its internal strength, which is a result that Beijing wants to see," said Xu Jian, an economist with CICC in Beijing.
Import growth slowed to 24.1 percent in September compared with a year earlier, well below August's 35.2 percent rise but ahead of market forecasts of a 23.7 percent increase.
Annual export growth slowed to 25.1 percent in September from 34.4 percent in August, narrowly missing forecasts of a 25.5 percent rise.
That left China with a trade surplus of $16.9 billion, still sizeable but down from $20.0 billion in August and below the median forecast of $18.0 billion.
FODDER FOR DEBATE
There was enough in the data for people on all sides of the yuan debate to ensure that China's exchange rate policy will remain in the spotlight for now.
"Note that $145 billion in exports is only a fraction below the July record high, so there will be plenty of ammunition for those pushing China on the yuan at the G20 meetings," said Sean Callow, a currency strategist with Westpac in Sydney.
A G20 summit in Seoul in mid-November and U.S. Congressional midterm elections earlier that month are sensitive political dates, before which many analysts believe China will push through faster yuan appreciation to blunt foreign criticism.
The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed a measure directed at China that could allow the United Sates to slap duties on imports from countries with exchange rates that are held at unfairly low levels.
A smaller Chinese trade surplus is seen as an essential component of rebalancing that is needed to put the global economy on sounder footing.
While foreign critics often emphasise the importance of a stronger yuan in achieving that goal, Beijing's retort is that this focus is too narrow. It says that a broader series of reforms, such was building up the country's welfare system, will over time encourage more domestic consumption.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said last week that the United States and the European Union should stop piling pressure on China to revalue its currency, warning that a rapid rise would pummel exporters and unleash disastrous social turmoil.
Nevertheless, China has let the yuan rise more quickly in recent weeks, making for a total appreciation of 2.3 percent against the dollar since the currency was unshackled from a nearly two-year peg on June 19. (Additional reporting by Aileen Wang; Writing by Simon Rabinovitch; Editing by Ken Wills)