Trade Minister Andrew Robb remains confident a trade deal will be reached with China by the end of the year and doesn't believe Chinese concerns over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit have affected the negotiations.
Mr Robb spent more than an hour on Saturday discussing trade issues with his Chinese counterpart.
"I saw absolutely no inference that the last week has had any impact on our relationship," Mr Robb told Sky News on Sunday.
"We're still on track to conclude something significant by the end of the year."
Chinese media accused Prime Minister Tony Abbott of being "insensible" to countries that suffered at the hands of the Japanese in World War II after the prime minister expressed admiration for submariners killed in an attack on Sydney during a speech to honour Mr Abe's visit.
Mr Robb said Australia was now inextricably linked to Japan, China and South Korea.
"Our prospects in the future depend critically on us having strong security arrangements with all three," he said.
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