Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is visiting China to meet with potential investors amid what he says is a deteriorating relationship between Canberra and Beijing.
The premier leaves on Tuesday for a three-day trip to China to meet with officials, spruik infrastructure projects and build trust.
"The relationship with China at a national level is not very good at the moment," he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
"I think that there have been some very unfortunate comments that have been made ... there are a number of members of the federal government who I think that could take a different tone."
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Mr Andrews said the while the relationship at a national level was "strained," the sentiment does not extend to Victoria.
"The key point is this is a very important partnership and it should never be one where we're grovelling ... but the notion of respect and the notion of value is very very important."
"If it's just about commodities, if it's just about trade, that is a limited relationship - it's got to be about trust and respect and always emphasising the mutual benefit that comes from what is a very long friendship and partnership."
Mr Andrews said the state government was committed to strengthening Victoria's relationship with China. Every member of cabinet has visited the country since the government was elected in 2014.
"We'll do everything we can to make sure we continue to have strong investment from China, strong partnerships with China, more Victorian goods and services being exported to China," he said.
Mr Andrews' comments come as the federal government plans to bring in laws against foreign interference in Australian domestic politics.
Last week, federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie used parliamentary privilege to allege Chinese-Australian political donor Chau Chak Wing funded the bribery of a senior United Nations official.
