New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced that China's premier, Li Qiang, will visit the country this week. 

It will be the first trip to the nation by a Chinese premier since Li Keqiang's visit in 2017.

Mr Luxon, speaking at a post-cabinet press conference on Monday, local time, said the visit would be a valuable opportunity for exchanges on areas of cooperation between the two countries. 

"New Zealand and China engage where we have shared interests, and we speak frankly and constructively with each other where we have differences," he said. 

"The challenging global outlook makes it vital that we are sharing perspectives and engaging China on key issues that matter to New Zealand," he added. 

China is New Zealand's top trading partner, with two-way goods and services trade reaching nearly NZ$38 billion ($35 billion) in the year ending March 2024, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Mr Li's visit will mark the second high-profile visit from a high-ranking Chinese official to the country this year, with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting in late March.

New Zealand has long been seen as a moderate or absent voice on China in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, but in recent years has spoken up about what it considers to be concerning actions by Beijing.

During Mr Yi's March visit, ministers discussed trade, business and security in the Pacific, as well as "areas of difference" including human rights and the situation in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, according to a statement after the visit.

Mr Luxon said on Monday he was confident that trade with China would continue to grow, supporting the government's goal to double the value of exports in the next decade.

The government has not yet released the dates for Mr Li's visit.

Reuters/ABC