Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has dismissed Prime Minister Julia Gillard's concerns over the Asian giant's human rights crackdown.

Ms Gillard on Tuesday met with Premier Wen in Beijing's ornate Great Hall of the People, adjacent to Tiananmen Square, after receiving a lavish ceremonial welcome.

At the beginning of their meeting, Premier Wen said the bilateral relationship between the two countries had "good momentum".

"China attaches a great deal of importance to our relationship with Australia," Premier Wen told Ms Gillard, who is in China for the first time since becoming prime minister.

The pair's talks were firmly focused on economic ties - particularly trade and investment - but Ms Gillard also raised more prickly topics.