The Chinese government says it hopes cooperation between Japan and Australia should contribute to regional peace.

The comments have been made after the signing of a new agreement by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott connected to military equipment and technology transfers.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said "We have noticed relevant report. We hope cooperation between relevant countries should aim for making active contribution to regional peace and stability, not vice versa, or not even targeting the third party."

The agreement mirrors a partnership Japan concluded with the UK a year ago.

It's expected to take Japan a step closer to a possible deal to build Australia a fleet of stealth submarines.

The deal comes a week after Shinzo Abe loosened previous restrictions on Japan's military.

Meanwhile, over 300 Chinese and South Koreans have gathered outside the Australian Parliament in Canberra to protest the Japanese government's reinterpretation of the country's pacifist Constitution.

"All the Koreans are really worried that they'll repeat the history again. If they don't tell the truth of what they've done, what happened in the Second World War, or in the past. If they don't teach that, it means they may do the exact same thing again." "They have trampled on Asia-Pacific areas, which will never be forgotten by history. But the Abe administration falsifies history and denies their crimes of the past. So I think all people in the Asia-Pacific should unite together to demand that they face up to history."

Shinzo Abe is currently on a tour in the southern hemisphere.

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