Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser told The Herald Beijing could use the loan to extend its global influence.

Priceless paintings by Matisse, Degas, Renoir, Rubens and Raeburn will be among the dozens of works lent to museums in Suzhou and Shanghai between January to October next year.

The works are part of the collection in the National Galleries of Scotland, which confirmed it will receive a fee for the loan, though it would not reveal the amount.

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But the loan of the works has raised concerns that China - a key ally of Russia which Nato chiefs say could launch an attack on western Europe by 2030 - could use such cultural partnerships to further its interests around the world.

Scottish Conservative culture spokesman, Murdo Fraser MSP said: “The Chinese Communist Party is actively seeking to extend its influence around the world, while strengthening its ties with Putin’s Russia.

"Scotland must be extremely wary of allowing that regime to exploit cultural partnerships to further its own interests.

“Our national treasures should be treated with the utmost care, not become part of a relationship that risks giving Beijing greater influence in Scotland.

“The SNP Government cannot simply hide behind the language of cultural exchange. It must be transparent about the risks and explain what safeguards are in place.”

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The board of the galleries signed off on an agreement made provisionally by NGS director Anne Lyden during a trade visit to the country early this year, the Scotsman reported last night.

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UK ministers have previously raised the alarm over the Scottish Government’s relationship with China.

First Minister John Swinney was a strong advocate of Chinese firm Ming Yang’s plan to build a wind turbine factory in the Highlands.

The company had proposed a £1.5 billion plant at Ardersier, near Nairn, but in Spring this year it was blocked by the UK government, which cited unspecified national security concerns.

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Meanwhile, in a development which points to a growing threat from China, the Scottish Government last month wrote to a number of universities north of the Border warning they must be aware of the risk of espionage on campus.

The move followed an alert issued by the UK’s security service that the Chinese research institute China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) had links to the country’s intelligence service.

MI5 said the CGTRI’s “primary purpose” is to fund research to improve the capability for espionage of China’s state security ministry and urged UK academics to review any links they have with it.

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