Foreign Minister Marise Payne has told China's new ambassador to Australia that Beijing should use its influence to encourage Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine.
Senator Payne met with Xiao Qian in Sydney on Wednesday, with an Australian government readout saying the foreign minister "set out frankly Australia's position on a range of issues".
Those issues included the importance of "appropriate ministerial and other high level dialogue and engagement, stability in the Indo-Pacific, free and open trade, human rights and the welfare of Australians detained in China", the readout states.
"Australia remains committed to a constructive relationship with China in which we can pursue areas of cooperation while remaining consistent with our own national sovereign interests and focussed on stability."
Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong revealed the ambassador has also sought to arrange meetings with the opposition, and she would liaise with the foreign minister's office.
"It is a good thing the ambassador has sought a meeting with the foreign minister regardless of difference, engagement is important. Neither country is going away," Senator Wong told Sky News.
But the senator said engagements would need to be on the terms that Australia's national interests are protected.
"We will ensure we engage with Marise [Payne] and her office so there are very clear, consistent and bipartisan messages from both parties of government about what we regard as important from Australia's perspective," she said.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Thursday used a major foreign policy speech to the Lowy Institute to outline how Australia should approach a more aggressive China.
"Our approach to the China relationship will be determined by our interests and values: a commitment to international law, rules-based trade, and respect for human rights, and bolstered by our regional partnerships and alliances," he said.
Mr Albanese said Beijing had failed in its obligations as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council by facilitating relief for Russia from international sanctions through trade.
The growing assertiveness of Chinese President Xi Jinping has been on display through the takeover of Hong Kong, repression of human rights in China and the militarisation of the South China Sea, Mr Albanese said.
"More broadly speaking, Australia still faces threats such as foreign interference, espionage, terrorism, organised crime, and cyber-attacks," he said.
"These vulnerabilities are often exploited by autocratic countries seeking to increase their power."
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said authoritarian expansionism required an increase in Australia's military capabilities across space, cyber, naval warfare and autonomous vehicles to boost deterrence.
