UPDATED 9.09AM The likelihood of an extradition treaty with China has moved a step closer thanks to the Prime Minister’s meeting with the Chinese President in Beijing overnight.

China wants up to 60 of its nationals deported from New Zealand, to face charges of spiriting millions of dollars out of the country - money they’d obtained illegally.

LISTEN ABOVE: Professor Robert Patman speaks to Rachel Smalley about the extradition deal with China

John Key said it’s not a pre-condition of China agreeing to upgrade our Free Trade Agreement with them, but it is an issue Xi Jingping is determined to pursue.

"If they see people that have fled offshore who they believe to be corrupt, they want to bring those people back and hold them to account.

"So he is very animated when he talks about this topic, he passionately cares about it but I don't think he's saying one is linked to the other."

New Zealand has resisted a treaty because of concerns they’d be executed or tortured, but John Key now appears to have softened.

He said Xi Jingping pointed out there's a number of countries we trade with, which have the death penalty - including the United States.

But Mr Key is convinced the Chinese will keep to their word that a corrupt person extradited from New Zealand won’t be executed or tortured.

However, Amnesty International is urging John Key to think very carefully about signing an extradition deal with China while it has such a flawed justice system.

New Zealand campaigns director Meg de Ronde said China continues to impede on the basic human rights of its citizens through unfair trials, forced labour, torture and arbitrary detention.

"Amnesty International's research shows it's virtually impossible for Prime Minister John Key to guarantee the safety of people, or to guarantee any of their basic human rights once they are returned to China."

SEE ALSO: Extradition treaty could be signed in China

Meanwhile, John Key has come away from the meeting confident New Zealand will get a better deal on the Free Trade Agreement.

The Prime Minister admits President Xi Jinping was more positive than he’d anticipated. He said the Chinese leader appreciates the work Fonterra has done in his country.

"Fonterra's invested well over a billion dollars, we've created 1600 jobs here, there are four food safety and security centres that we've established, and actually we've played a big part in lifting the capability and productivity of Chinese farmers."