Australia's ambassador to China has been called in to the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs to explain the Turnbull Government's new foreign interference laws.

Jan Adams, Australia's top diplomat in Beijing, was summoned by Chinese officials on Friday.

The move indicates an apparent emergence of a diplomatic row between Australia and China, although it is not unprecedented for Australian ambassadors in China to be called in.

In 2013, a top Australian diplomat in China was summoned to the ministry during a dispute over contested islands.

Last week, China's foreign ministry accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of "poisoning" the relationship with his comments on China's attempts to influence Australian politics.

Mr Turnbull had announced new laws to ban foreign donations and create a register of lobbyists working for foreign countries.

The current spat follows the resignation of Labor senator Sam Dastyari over his relationship with a Chinese donor, following weeks of pressure from the Turnbull government.