It will be the 11th round of formal FTA negotiations and the first since October 2007, and follows the "unfreezing" of negotiations after separate visits to China in April by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and the Minister for Trade, Simon Crean.

"This will be an important round for negotiators to re-engage on working towards a comprehensive, high-quality FTA," Mr Crean said.

"Negotiations will continue across all areas including agriculture, manufactures, services, resources and intellectual property.

"In addition, as agreed in April, time has been set aside for discussion of early outcomes.

Mr Crean says Australia will pursue early outcomes in services, an area where Australia has particular strengths and where Australian companies encounter a range of behind the border barriers to trade and investment.

China is Australia's largest trading partner with two-way trade (imports and exports of both goods and services) of $58 billion in 2007.

"There is no doubt negotiations will continue to be challenging as this is China's first FTA with a country that has trade interests across the board, covering services, agriculture, resources and manufactures," Mr Crean.

"Given the competitiveness of China's industries, there are also sensitivities on the Australian side that will need to be addressed."