Daniel Andrews' trip to China has continued to be lambasted, as an ex-foreign minister piled on the criticism, accusing him of embarrassing Australia.

The former Victorian premier raised eyebrows across Australia on Wednesday as he was seen rubbing shoulders with dictators at the largest-ever military parade in China, which was staged to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Mr Andrews was captured by cameras shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the red carpet upon his arrival at the event, while he was later snapped in a group photo alongside world leaders, just two rows back from Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Alexander Downer, who served as Australia's foreign minister in the Howard government from 1996 to 2007

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