Winston Peters is set to travel to China next week, with talks on the table about how the two countries to work together in the Pacific.

The Foreign Minister also hopes extend our relationship with China, at a time when trade and trade-related matters are critical.

But Canterbury University politics lecturer Anne-Marie Brady told Kate Hawkesby the two countries have different objectives and priorities for the Pacific.

"They've been trying to get China to partner with New Zealand and Australia on the approach to aid for a number of years. There's been one and one only cooperation project between New Zealand and China in the Pacific."

North Korea is likely to be on the agenda.

Brady says Peters is the only western leader who has close contacts in North Korea.

"I can see he's looking for a legacy project, and it would be great if New Zealand could make a contribution and could bring peace to the Korean peninsula and [find] a solution that could suit all parties, it would be quite a miracle."

LISTEN TO ANNE-MARIE BRADY TALK WITH KATE HAWKESBY ABOVE