The Prime Minister wants Australia’s public service to “keep up the dialogue” with Chinese counterparts.

China has been engaged in an odd, semi-official trade war with Australia, impacting exports of products like coal, beef, lobsters, wine and barley.

Reports say China is upset at Australia's calls for an inquiry into the origin of COVID-19, alleged cyber-attacks and sanctions on the use of Huawei telecoms equipment.

“Our public officials are not burdened with the overlays of international relations in the same way ministers or prime ministers are,” Mr Morrison said this week.

“And I would see that as an important connection, particularly at a time when there are tensions and of course, there are tensions. And in those circumstances, we rely more on these official engagements - these officials' level of engagements.”

The Prime Minster said Australia’s issues with China are not a matter for public servants.

“Keep up the connections and do all you can to improve them and keep the dialogue going at that level, because business and industry are relying on that to enable us to try and mitigate the impact of some of these measures that are being introduced.”