WAYNE Swan has admitted that an important part of his two-day trip to Hong Kong and China this week involved helping to open a multi-billion-dollar entertainment and conference centre for one of Australia's biggest political donors, billionaire Chau Chak Wing.

The Treasurer is the latest in a long line of senior politicians from both sides to pay homage to the provincial property developer and pro-Beijing newspaper owner.

"I did receive an invitation from Dr Chau -- and I had intended on going to Hong Kong and Guangzhou so we built the trip around that," Mr Swan told The Australian.

Mr Swan attended the opening conference at Dr Chau's Congdu International Convention Centre. He gave a speech on Australia and renewable energy at a two-day summit branded The Creation of an Economic Structure: A Collective of Mutual Interests between China and Australia.

A number of Australian companies including AMP, ANZ and Rio Tinto sent delegates, and a number of Chinese government propaganda organisations were also listed. Mr Chau heads one of these, the China Australia Friendship Organisation.

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Mr Swan kicked some goals on the trip, lifting his rhetoric on China moving to a market-based exchange rate and most notably holding a detailed and forthright meeting with Wang Yang, one of China's rising political stars.

The Guangdong Governor is in close contention for the nine-man group that rules the country when there is a once-a-decade leadership handover in October next year. Mr Yang is a leading economic reformer and runs the most populous and liberal province in China.

Mr Swan emphasised how important it was for both China and the West to continue economic reforms. He also had a productive discussion with Mr Wang about the mounting numbers of Australians involved in Chinese legal cases.

There are 18 Australians in detention in China, up 50 per cent from 6 months ago, often due to business deals gone sour.

Mr Swan raised the case of Charlotte Chou, who has been through a legal ordeal involving two charges, a jail term and six court hearings -- the latest was adjourned this week.

Mr Yang promised to raise the issue with the Guangdong judiciary which, as provincial party chief, he oversees.