State Growth Minister Minister Michael Ferguson said the visits by the icebreakers Xue Long and Xue Long 2 followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government for increased cooperation.

He said hundreds of people from countries including Japan, Italy, Korea and France used Hobart as their final point of call before heading to Antarctica.

"This means jobs for Tasmanians," Mr Ferguson said.

"It means increased investment and it means a better quality of life for our state.

"I'm advised that the total Antarctic investment each year is nearly $200 million and we're talking about a sector now that's employing 850 people. So this is great news for our state."

Tasmanian Polar Network chair Richard Fader said local businesses benefited from the visit of the two Chinese icebreakers by supplying technical support, fresh fruit and vegetables, salmon and fuel.

"The wealth of experience and the wealth of capability in the Tasmanian Antarctic sector is unsurpassed by anywhere else in the world. So it's fantastic," Mr Fader said.

"There's a varied range of products and services that they're picking up in Tasmania before they head to their stations in the Antarctic over the next.

"There's approximately between 10 and 11 tonnes of produce that have been loaded on board and nearly one and a half million litres of fuel."

Mr Fader said China had a rapidly advancing scientific program in the Antarctic and had worked with the Australian Antarctic Division for more than 35 years.

Mr Ferguson said the welcome mat was out not just for China but also other nations.

He would not discuss any briefing on national security but said Tasmania wanted to protect its relationship with China.

"We want to protect this relationship because it's a strong and positive economic relationship, which means jobs for Tasmanians and more markets for our producers," Mr Ferguson said. "And so that's why we're seeing the success of that right now and I think it should be celebrated and supported."