Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has held frank and "extremely open" talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, during which he raised concerns about territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Mr Turnbull declined to detail the conversations, but said he'd raised the issue on every occasion the pair had met, including on Thursday night.

"(We have) a very honest and open relationship as two leaders who can speak to each other candidly and frankly about all of these issues and of course many others as well," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Beijing on Friday.

Mr Turnbull said Australia's clear position was all claimants should settle the disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law.

"The remarkable economic gains in this region, by every country including our own and of course China, has been based on the foundation of peace and stability," he said.