PRIME Minister Julia Gillard's first day in China is expected to be dominated by mounting tensions on the Korean peninsula over threats made by North Korea.
As Australia joined international calls for calm in north Asia, Ms Gillard was due to touch down on Hainan Island on Friday evening for a six-day visit to China.
Her trip is off to a delicate start after North Korea apparently moved a missile capable of hitting South Korea and Japan to its eastern coast and Chinese efforts to soothe the rogue state appeared so far to fall on deaf ears.
Before leaving home, Ms Gillard spoke by phone to South Korean president Park Geun-hye, assuring her of Australia's support and expressing concern about the "serious" risk posed to regional security.
Ms Gillard will hold a press briefing around 8pm AEDT in the major Hainan city of Sanya at which she's expected to expand on Australia's response to the hostility coming out of North Korea.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr, who is part of the delegation to China led by Ms Gillard, expects the Chinese will give an account of steps they've taken on North Korea so far.
On Friday night, Ms Gillard will hold private meetings ahead of the Boao Forum for Asia - the Asian equivalent of Europe's Davos Forum - where she will meet Chinese business leaders.
Ms Gillard will promote Australia's trade and economic interests and could next week announce developments in currency exchange between Australia and China.
Earlier on Friday, opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop, who's also going to the Boao forum, said while Australia had a strong economic relationship with China it needed to address the issue of foreign investment.
"We are in danger of becoming complacent about that relationship," she said.
Ms Bishop said Chinese officials had raised with her concerns about the difficulties faced by Chinese companies investing in Australia.
"They are not made to feel welcome," she told ABC radio.
Ms Gillard's China agenda also includes talks on strengthening defence ties through more exchanges of senior military personnel, joint activities and information sharing.
She expects to meet new China President Xi Jinping in Sanya on Sunday and visit Shanghai and Beijing, where she will meet new Premier Li Keqiang.
The high-powered Australian delegation includes Trade Minister Craig Emerson and Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten.
