The controversial Adani coal mine project in Queensland will not be funded by Chinese banks, the Chinese embassy has confirmed, with former foreign minister Bob Carr and prominent opponent of the mine Geoff Cousins claiming partial credit.

Chinese company China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) had been in discussions with Adani about financing the project in a $1 billion deal.

Former Foreign Minister Bob Carr claims partial credit for stopping Chinese finance for Adani. Credit:Daniel Munoz

But Mr Carr, director of the Australia China Relations Institute, on Tuesday claimed credit for scuttling the Chinese finance deal after a three-week campaign against the "dirty coal mine", during which he told Chinese government and finance sector figures the project was unpopular among the Australian people.

Mr Carr and Mr Cousins were both told by the Chinese embassy on Tuesday that China would not fund Adani.