Concerns about Beijing keeping the yuan artificially low to help exporters is one reason the currency has previously failed to meet the criteria for reserve currencies set out by the IMF. However, Chinese officials have a made a concerted effort to build support for the yuan's inclusion, and a recent IMF staff report endorsed such a move.
Initially, the currency's inclusion would be largely a symbolic gesture, some analysts have said.
They have also said the yuan's ongoing inclusion in the basket would depend on whether China continues its financial reforms.