BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday (Sept 4) that he hopes Australia continues to provide a fair, transparent and predictable policy environment for foreign investors.

The two were speaking on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

China "hopes the Australian side continues to dedicate itself to providing foreign investors a fair, transparent and predictable policy environment", China's Foreign Ministry cited Mr Xi as saying. "This also accords with Australia's own interests."

China was angered after Australia last month blocked the A$10 billion (S$10.3 billion) sale of the country's biggest energy grid to Chinese bidders after they failed to overcome security concerns.

The decision has caused a rift between Australia and its biggest trading partner. China has accused Australia of bowing to protectionist sentiment in blocking the bid for Ausgrid, as well as an earlier one by a China-led consortium to buy cattle company Kidman & Co.

Australia, a staunch United States ally, has also drawn criticism from China for running surveillance flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea, and supporting US freedom of navigation exercises there.

Mr Xi said China and Australia should respect each others "choices in their development paths and each others core interests and major interests", the Foreign Ministry added.