The Turnbull government has refused to release an agreement it signed with China covering the controversial “Belt and Road Initiative” infrastructure program on the grounds Beijing does not want it made public.

Trade Minister Steven Ciobo signed the memorandum of understanding last September for cooperation on building infrastructure such as roads, bridges and dams in third countries - including under the Belt and Road Initiative - during a visit to Beijing.

Canberra’s response to the so-called BRI has been a balancing act because, while it supports more infrastructure in Asia and the Pacific region and wants opportunities for Australian firms, it is concerned the initiative is a strategic play by Beijing to dominate the region and involves murky financing that could leave poor countries beholden to Beijing.

The MOU would be expected to state Australia’s conditions for cooperating with China - such as that projects are financially transparent, do not involve corruption, genuinely help other countries and do not burden them with unsustainable debt.