One of the many books on China that's got people talking in Australia at the moment is Joshua Kurlantzick's Charm Offensive: How China's Soft Power is Transforming the World.
Dr Kurlantzick's book - which argues that in addition to utilising its economic and strategic clout to gain influence around the world, China is vigorously promoting its language and culture - has some in Australia saying their country's relationship with China these days is too focused on economics.
What do Chinese leaders, businesspeople or intellectuals know about Australia? Not much, according to critics of the government of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, except for the fact that it is a major economic partner of China.
While China's 'charm offensive' in Australia includes the establishment of its Confucius Institutes, an active programme of academic exchanges, artistic initiatives and promotion of studies in Chinese language and culture, Australia's efforts in these areas come a distant second behind promotion of economic relations - a big mistake, according to Carrillo Gantner, a former Australian diplomat.
Mr Gantner was a cultural counsellor in the Australian embassy in Beijing in the 1980s and now chairs a leading Asian studies think-tank. In a recent media interview, Mr Gantner was scathing about the Howard government's obsession with Australia's economic relationship with China.
Mr Howard, says Mr Gantner, doesn't understand that 'The Chinese say, 'Culture first, business second''.
If one looks at the website of the Australian embassy in China, Mr Gantner's point is borne out. The bulk of the website focuses on information about economics, trade and migration; embassy staff working on cultural issues are lumped in with the public relations section. By contrast, the website of the Chinese embassy in Australia is littered with links and references to Chinese culture and the arts.