One of the themes to emerge from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Australia last week was a desire by both countries to look beyond their traditional trading relationship which has focused on resources and consumer products.

While China's appetite for Australian iron ore, beef, vitamins and infant formula is well known, it also values Australian skills and technology. This is becoming increasingly apparent in areas such as aged care and education, while organisations such as the CSIRO have been working with Chinese firms on technology to help them meet clean energy targets.

However, one speaker at a business summit Mr Li attended in Sydney on Friday night suggested it may be Australian manufacturers that need Chinese technology to reduce their carbon emissions. Wu Daohuong, chairman of Beijing Shenwu Environment & Energy Technology Co, wants to sell his clean energy technology to Australian companies.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at an AFL game in Sydney at the weekend. Getty Images

"Australia is a very advanced country, however the manufacturing industry is almost at the same level as China," he said, referring to the environmental standards of high carbon-emitting industries such as manufacturers and miners.

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