Local journalists won't, however, enjoy such freedom.

When The Australian Financial Review inquired about staying in a hotel reserved for Chinese journalists, we were told this would be fine but the usual internet restrictions would apply.

For China, the G20 is the most high-profile meeting of world leaders the country has ever hosted and nothing has been left to chance.

Blue skies are a priority.

Textile, cement and steel mills across five provinces have either been shut down or forced to lower production in the 41 days leading up to the event.

This has affected an estimated 41 million tonnes of annual steel-making capacity – nearly 10 times Australia's total output last year - although production will likely be ramped up following the meeting.

In Hangzhou itself, preparations have been going on for more than a year and the city has undergone a major facelift, which has even extended to the painting of rooftops for the benefit of delegates flying in.

Residents have been advised to leave the city, schools are shut and from this week tourist groups were banned from entering precincts around the famous West Lake, which will form the backdrop to the meeting.


And if that didn't prove how seriously the event was being taken, no less than one million volunteers will be deployed during the three day event – 20 times more than at the Rio Olympics.

For Australia, the G20 will be an opportunity for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to gauge the state of the relationship, after a difficult few months.

Nick Bisley, professor of international relations at La Trobe University, believes the bi-lateral relationship is at its lowest level since 2009.

"Some of the language coming out of the PM's office has been sharper even than [former Prime Minister Tony] Abbott was prepared to use," he said.

"I think what will be interesting at the G20 is what tone is struck in the bilateral and multilateral meetings."

Mr Bisley also notes the Chinese government has form in "pressing hard" on new administrations and from its perspective Australia has a new government.

"And it's in a very different and weaker position than it was prior to the July 2nd [election]," he said.

Strains in China's bilateral relationships, as a result of Beijing's assertive approach to its claim over much of the South China Sea, will likely overshadow the official agenda, which is focused on boosting global growth.

"For China, the South China Sea issue is a big prestige issue," said Mr Bisley. China's got a lot of face invested in it. Beijing interprets Australia's [intervention] as it weighing into a dispute in which it is not a disputant."

For China, the G20 meeting is important as Beijing attempts to carve out a bigger role for itself in shaping global governance through international institutions.

It has already done this by creating the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and is pushing for a bigger say in existing institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, as part of its desire to shape and even dictate the global agenda.