South China Sea concerns raised at talks

China and Australia have reportedly agreed to work on their strained relationship, as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop raised serious concerns about developments in the South China Sea.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop met with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the sidelines of Saturday's Association of Southeast Asian Nations ministers meeting.

The use of advanced weapons systems in disputed areas in the South China Sea was among the countries' shared concerns, a joint statement following the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue said.

"The ministers voiced strong opposition to coercive unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions," the statement read.

China and a number of southeast Asian nations have overlapping claims to islands and other features in the sea, which is one of the world's busiest waterways.

Despite sharing their concerns, Ms Bishop, Mr Kono and Mr Pompeo acknowledged progress towards a code of conduct for the hotspot and called for it to be in line with international laws.

Singapore's foreign minister said this week southeast Asian nations and China had reached a "milestone" in talks over the code, with a working text serving as a basis for future negotiations.

The sea was also raised in a meeting between Ms Bishop and Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi in Singapore, the latter told reporters.

The senior diplomat said the pair also exchanged views on North Korea and agreed to make efforts to improve their relationship.

Relations soured last year when Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accused Beijing of meddling in Australia's affairs.

China has denied those claims.

Mr Yi is hopeful relations between the countries can become more healthy and stable, but urged Australia to be less suspicious.

"To achieve this, we hope that Australia can do more that is in the interest of increasing mutual trust between the two countries, and not be groundlessly suspicious," he said, according to Reuters.

Ms Bishop told reporters the talks had been "very positive".

A later statement from China's foreign ministry said Beijing "never" interfered in the domestic politics of other countries or conducted "infiltration" operations overseas, Reuters reported.

It said Ms Bishop had expressed willingness to "objectively view China's development and the Australia-China relationship", that Australia opposed protectionism and was willing to work with China to propel talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.