BEIJING, Sept 4, 2007 (AFP) - Chinese food and other imports into Australia are safe, Australian Trade Minister Warren Truss said Tuesday, according to China's official Xinhua news agency.

Chinese imports are not treated any differently to products from other countries, Truss told Xinhua in Sydney in the lead-up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders' summit there on the weekend.

"To me they must be safe, otherwise they wouldn't be allowed into the Australian market," Truss was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

"When it comes to Chinese products coming into Australia, we treat them exactly the same as products coming from any country in the world.

"These products and foods coming into Australia have to meet the same standards as Australian products and foods that are supplied to Australian consumers."

Australia's ambassador to APEC, David Spencer, said on Monday that food safety would be on the agenda at the summit. Trade ministers from the 21 APEC nations are also meeting in Sydney this week ahead of the summit.

The reputation of China's exports has been hit hard in recent months by a spate of recalls and other scares overseas.

Chinese-made products that have been seized or recalled have included seafood, noodles, fruit and vegetables, toothpaste, tyres and toys.