Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has raised China’s launch of an inter­continental ballistic missile over the Pacific during critical talks with economic policy-makers.

Chalmers co-chaired the Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing on Thursday.

The Chinese military’s rocket force test-fired the missile on Wednesday morning, ahead of Chalmers’ arrival.

It was the first time in more than four decades that China’s Defence Ministry had confirmed such a test. It said it was part of a “routine arrangement in our annual training plan”, and that it was not directed at any country or target.

French Polynesia said the ICBM had landed near its exclusive economic zone in the central Pacific.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the test was concerning.

“Pacific leaders have clearly articulated their expectation that we have a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and secure region. As part of the region, New Zealand strongly supports that expectation,” he said.

Fiji’s President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere referred to the “unilateral” test while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“We urge respect for our region, and call for cessation of such action under principle four of the Ocean of Peace, as was endorsed by the Pacific leaders in Tonga last month,” he said.

“Our statement reinforces the Pacific’s peaceful example to uphold international law and urge others to refrain from actions that undermine peace and security in the blue Pacific.”

CNN reports that a Pentagon spokesperson said the US received “some advanced notification” of the test from Beijing, calling it “a step in the right direction … to preventing any misperception or miscalculation”.

It follows Australian, Japanese and New Zealand navy ships sailing through the Taiwan Strait earlier this week.

Speaking from Beijing on Friday, Chalmers confirmed he had spoken about the missile blast during talks with policy-makers.

“I was able to reiterate in the meetings yesterday afternoon our expectations of safe and professional conduct of all militaries operating in our region,” he said.

“I was able to raise that in the conversation yesterday afternoon, but as you would expect, the overwhelming focus of our discussions here have been the economy.”

Re-establishing dialogue with China is another important step towards stabilising our economic relationship.

It’s an economic relationship that is full of complexity and opportunity.

But we have the best chance to manage and maximise those links when we engage in a meaningful… pic.twitter.com/nQtS2Rb4UM

— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) September 27, 2024

Chalmers said Australia’s passage through the strait was not discussed during the meeting.

“Australia, like other countries in our region and around the world, has a lot at stake when it comes to a stable, secure, peaceful and prosperous region,” he said.

“These are routine activities, and they’re conducted in accordance with international law.”

Chalmers said it was “crucial” the economic dialogue was restarted, as he became the first Australian treasurer in seven years to visit China.

“It’s a very good outcome for Australia that we will be hosting our counterparts next year to continue to advance these discussions on areas like trade and investment, decarbonisation of our industries, business engagement,” he said.

Lingering trade bans remain on Australian beef exporters and rock lobster, after Beijing removed most of the $20 billion sanctions imposed in 2020 during strained relations.

Chalmers said that during the talks he spoke about “safeguarding” the global rules-based system of open trade and having fair and free markets which had served economies “so well”.

-with AAP