Beijing: An official Chinese state newspaper has urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to "build more consensus" on China policy in his government ranks if he wants to improve ties with China.

The China Daily in an editorial on Monday wrote approvingly of Morrison, who had played down "anti-China remarks" by his home affairs minister Peter Dutton, but the newspaper said this wasn't enough.

Scott Morrison, pictured with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2018, is yet to visit China since becoming Prime Minister. Credit:AAP

Under the headline "Canberra still has work to do", the editorial praised Morrison for sending an "unmistakeable message" to US President Donald Trump last month that "China is a partner, not a threat, to Australia".

"How he dealt with Dutton's remarks shows he is consistent in this stance and does not want more damage to be done to bilateral ties. But the ball remains in Canberra's court," the newspaper wrote.