North Korea's participation at an international summit on China's new Silk Road plan, on the same day of another missile launch, has the mood of a drunken uncle at a Christmas party.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is playing host to almost 30 world leaders and representatives from 100-odd countries, on Sunday at the One Belt One Road Forum in Beijing.
China has defended North Korea's invite, saying the forum is inclusive and open to all countries.
The start of the summit coincided with North Korea firing a ballistic missile from a region near its west coast that flew 700km in 30 minutes and dropped in the sea between the North's east coast and Japan.
While the Turnbull government has condemned the latest missile launch as "reckless," Trade Minister Steve Ciobo has played down the rogue state's presence.
"I'm not going to run a critique of the decision of the Chinese government," Mr Ciobo told reporters in Beijing
There are reports the US embassy in Beijing had submitted a diplomatic note to China's foreign ministry, saying that inviting North Korea sent the wrong message.
Asked if he was comfortable potentially sharing a stage or speaking at panel sessions with North Korean officials, Mr Ciobo pointed out there was more than 1000 delegates at the forum.
He dismissed speculation of western officials walking out of sessions with North Koreans as "crystal ball gazing".
The North Korean spat loomed large as Mr Xi took to the stage to spruik his signature economic and foreign policy - a grand scheme to build railways, fast trains, ports and other infrastructure across Asia, Eurasia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. It aims to boost trade, economic growth and cut transit time for goods.
He pledged an extra $US124 billion ($A168 billion) for his Silk Road plan, saying he envisioned it would be a path for peace and prosperity for the world.
Mr Xi told the forum it aimed to create one big family of "harmonious co-existence" and a win-win model for co-operation.
"We have no intention to interfere in other countries' internal affairs ... or impose our own will on others," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the venture saying the world needed ideas fresh of stereotypes.
Mr Ciobo is remaining tight-lipped on the prospects of Australia signing up for the scheme, emphasising that the federal government's own northern Australia development plans were separate.
"We see much merit in the (initiative), we see opportunities for collaboration," he said, adding there was huge scope for Australian industries to get involved.
His caution contrasts with New Zealand and the United Kingdom which are on board.
"It is my belief that Britain, lying at the western end of the Belt and Road, is a natural partner in this endeavour," British finance minister Philip Hammond told the forum.
The federal opposition is also enthusiastic about the concept arguing the government's initial reluctance to sign up to the China-led Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank in 2014 was "self defeating" and the same mistake should not be repeated.
* Lisa Martin travelled to the One Belt, One Road Forum as a guest of the Chinese Embassy in Canberra.
