When Malcolm Turnbull met premier Li Keqiang last year in his first official visit to China, he tried to prevent rising tension over China's military build-up from overshadowing business ties.
Trade, tourism and research links dominated the formal side of talks, but neither side could ignore the rising tensions between China and the United States over the South China Sea.
In remarks aimed largely at China, Mr Turnbull urged all parties involved in the many territorial disputes in the South China Sea to adhere to the law.
"We urge all claimants to settle territorial disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law."
Now, the pair are meeting again as Li Keqiang tours Canberra and Sydney on a five-day visit, and former foreign minister Bob Carr says it is vital US interests do not get between them.
"I think it would be good if Australian leaders made clear to the Chinese that we're about our own interests, that we've got our own policy. We should not be looking over our shoulder at Washington. I just think they'd enjoy hearing that Australia has got its own perspective, even if we're cautioning them and warning them about behaviour we don't think is helpful."
The China-Australia relationship is an otherwise thriving partnership now in its fifth decade.
Former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam opened diplomatic channels between the two countries in the 1970s, ending a generation of lost contact between them.
A free-trade agreement reached in 2014, while Chinese president Xi Jinping was in Australia, strengthened the partnership.
Premier Li and Mr Turnbull are expected to announce the agreement's next stage during this week's visit.
China is ready to capitalise on new opportunities now US president Donald Trump has pulled that country out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Two-way trade between Australia and China totalled $160 billion last year.
About 1.4 million Chinese visitors come to Australia each year, and the tourism links between the two countries are growing.
But Australia's first ambassador to China, Stephen Fitzgerald, says, while Australians are living in a Chinese world, Australia still does not have the relationship to match it.
"It needs a very strong, new initiative, for example, to put some substance into the agreement that was reached by the Gillard Government with China for a strategic partnership with China. If you deal at a high enough level with the Chinese, and regularly, often enough, face-to-face, then you do have an opportunity to have some influence."
The relationship has not been all smooth and easy, especially over human rights and property prices.
The Tibetan community is one of several groups planning rallies in Canberra and Sydney during Premier Li's visit.
Tibetan Community of Australia president Tsering Dorjee says the visit is upsetting because human rights in Tibet continue to worsen.
He says he hopes the Australian government will send a clear message that business and human rights need to be addressed separately.
"(The) Tibetan side is really, really upset, really angry, because the last few years in human rights is worse. Human rights and business separately - we need to show, please, this to the government that's left there now. Please, that's our message."
