Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is expected to raise human rights with the Chinese government when he arrives in Beijing for the Olympics later today.
The Prime Minister will fly out of Darwin at eight o'clock this morning, heading to Beijing for both business and pleasure.
A special guest at an Australian flag-raising ceremony, Mr Rudd will also meet with our athletes at a reception for the Aussie Olympic team tonight.
The PM will join the hype surrounding the swim team attending men's and women's heats - along with a basketball match featuring the Opals.
Mr Rudd will also use the trip to partake in bilateral talks with world leaders and oversee meetings between Australian and Chinese business and industry partners.
Mr Rudd has told Channel Nine the relationship with China is complex.
“You’re not going to turn the events of centuries around in the matter of a few days, but what you can do is continue to apply the appropriate level of scrutiny to these things – I intend to do that while still building on what I think is a very important relationship for China.”