Chinese ambassador tells Australia not to risk bilateral ties after Trump US election victory

China's ambassador to Australia has declared there's "no reason" that Donald Trump's return to the White House should damage the relationship between Canberra and Beijing.

Xiao Qian struck a buoyant tone at the opening of a press conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, saying ties were "back to the right track" after being "derailed" under the Coalition.

But the ambassador fielded multiple questions about the president-elect and what his return to power would mean for ties between China, the US and Australia.

Mr Trump has appointed several China hawks to key positions in his administration, and some analysts predict he's likely to demand allies join US efforts to curb China's military and technological prowess.

Mr Xiao said the bilateral relationship between Australia and China had to be handled "maturely" and both countries should try to protect its "foundations."

"There are reasons for us to be responsibly managing relations bilaterally, well enough, maturely enough, so that our two peoples can continue to benefit," he said.

The US president-elect has also vowed to impose massive 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, sparking fears of a global trade war which could inflict massive damage on Australia's economy.

The ambassador wouldn't be drawn on that prospect, saying he remained confident the two great powers could manage their relationship.

But he said as two major trading nations, China and Australia could work together to "maintain globalisation" and "safeguard the integrity of the global trading system, including the WTO."

China has gradually unwound the trade restrictions it imposed on Australian exports worth some $20 billion annually, as the bilateral relationship "stabilised" in the wake of the 2022 election.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared that China's premier has promised to lift the last major block — on Australian rock lobsters — before Chinese New Year, next January.

Xiao Qian appeared to confirm that timetable, saying both sides were working to resolve outstanding "technical" issues, and he hoped lobsters would be able to return to the Chinese market by the end of the year.

When asked if China "regretted" its campaign of economic punishment, the ambassador said yes.

"Theoretically, I think it's not wrong to say I regret (that) because something has happened at that period of time which caused damage to both sides," he said.

But he also suggested that Australia shared blame for the episode, saying that China was responding to unfair Australian tariffs on Chinese goods, and once again criticising the Turnbull government's decision to block Huawei from Australian networks.

"Looking to the future, I think having experienced this difficult period in time, perhaps both countries can become more mature, to manage our relationship," he said.

"We know better what are the fundamental interests, and what exactly our own national interests (are)."

The ambassador also suggested that he wanted to see closer defence cooperation between Australia and China.

There have been a series of confrontations between the Australian Defence Force and the Chinese military in recent years, including in the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea.

Australia and China have now resumed regular talks between defence officials, but the ambassador suggested he'd like to see joint exercises resume.

"I would encourage more engagement between our two defence (forces)," he said.

"I'm looking forward that in months and years to come, hopefully we can bring defence ties back onto the right track (and) back to the level we had used to reach."

But that idea is unlikely to gain traction in Canberra, where there are still deep reservoirs of suspicion about China's massive military build-up and its strategic objectives in the region.