Melbourne:
Amid opposition criticism of his government's perceived proximity with China, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said he intends to pursue closer ties with Beijing as it is in the country's interest.
The row over the government's China connection broke out after it emerged that two senior Chinese officials, including a Communist Party propaganda chief, recently visited Australia without public knowledge.
The opposition has also made a scathing attack on Rudd, considered a Sinophile, over meetings held between Labour politicians and Chinese-born businesswoman Helen Liu who had sponsored two undeclared trips to China by Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.
Rudd, who is in London, was quoted as saying that forging closer links with China was in the national interest.
"It is absolutely necessary for any Australian Prime Minister to ensure that we maximise our interests, our economic interests and the interests of Australian jobs in developing that relationship further, and I intend to do so," he said.