The declaration comes as the federal opposition tries to draw attention to divisions within the coalition government on a rising China, against the backdrop of a China-US trade war.

Mr Frydenberg told an American-Australian Leadership Dialogue dinner in Perth on Friday that Australia has a duty to stand with the US in times of global uncertainty, The Australian reported on Monday.

"It's not only our privilege to be strong, it's our duty to be strong and this is where America's place in the world is so important," he said.

"It's more important than ever that our two great nations, the United States and Australia, work more closely than ever.

"We need to work together in an unprecedented way across the economic, the strategic and the political realms, and to do so consistent with our values, consistent with our objectives, and faithful to our history."

Liberal backbencher Andrew Hastie was criticised last week for comparing the rise of China to Nazi Germany in the 1940s, drawing a mixed reaction from his coalition colleagues and condemnation from Beijing.

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese said there must be consistency when it came to foreign policy, and pointed to divisions within the government ranks.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham on Sunday urged his colleagues to think before they speak on sensitive foreign policy matters.

Australian Associated Press