By Max Blenkin of AAP

CANBERRA, Aug 27 AAP - Chief of the Australian Defence Force General John Baker will discuss defence and security issues with his Chinese counterparts during a visit to China late next month.

A defence source confirmed today that General Baker would visit China in September, although no itinerary nor agenda for discussions have yet been announced.

However, General Baker can expect to be asked about Australian moves to upgrade the defence relationship with the United States.

The spokesman said General Baker had accepted the invitation from his counterpart General Fu Quanyou, Chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army.

General Baker's visit will mark what is considered the full resumption of defence ties following their breakdown after the Tienanmen Square massacre of June 4, 1989.

The source said this would be the first visit by an Australian defence chief to China and the first senior officer visit since former head of the RAAF, Air Vice Marshall Barry Gration went to China in 1994.

The invitation was initially extended during a visit by the People's Liberation Army's deputy chief of general staff last year.

But it coincides with signs of rising tensions in the relationship with China, which has protested moves by the new government to explore sales of Australian uranium to Taiwan and to hold official talks with the exiled Tibetan religious leader the Dalai Lama next month.

The official Chinese media has also expressed concerns about upgraded Australian defence ties with the US and their perception that the US is seeking to contain China.

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer gave priority to emphasising Australia's commitment to the Chinese relationship in Beijing last week and said he had made a point about briefing his counterpart, Qian Qichen, on the US defence deal beforehand.