Aussie PM to visit China to smooth business ties

MELBOURNE, May 19 (Reuters): Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will travel to China later this year to smooth over bumpy diplomatic ties that have now developed into trade problems for some of Australia's biggest wine and beverage exporters, Fairfax Media reported.

Relations between the two trade partners have cooled significantly in recent months, after Turnbull's conservative coalition government proposed a bill to limit foreign influence in Australia, including political donations, but which Beijing has interpreted as "anti-China".

No dates were immediately available for Turnbull's trip.

Several Australian businesses that export to China have complained that the cool diplomatic ties had spilled over into business, with delays and extra scrutiny being applied at customs and distribution.