The two countries will start negotiations on a list of services that are off limits for foreign investors, the statement said.

New Zealand also said it had signed a range of cooperative arrangements with China on trade, agriculture, forestry, education, and science and innovation.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Chinese Premier Li Qiang also discussed the Indo-Pacific region, tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, Wellington said in a statement.

Hipkins is on a state visit to China aimed at boosting trade ties with the world's second-largest economy.

Almost a quarter of New Zealand's export earnings come from China, making it one of the Western nations most dependent on ties with Beijing. 

That close relationship, coupled with aggressive Chinese efforts to develop influence in New Zealand, has long worried Wellington's allies.

Hipkins spoke with Xi Jinping on Tuesday about "areas of direct bilateral cooperation like trade, education, science and innovation, agriculture and tourism", according to remarks published by the prime minister's office.

He also spoke about "the constructive role China can play in addressing shared global challenges such as climate change and the war in Ukraine", according to the statement.

Beijing says it is a neutral party in the war but has been criticised by Western countries for refusing to condemn Moscow and for its ties with Russia.

But New Zealand has in the past been notably less critical of China's government.

"We will always advocate for approaches and outcomes that reflect New Zealand's independent foreign policy or interests and values, in a respectful but consistent way," Hipkins said in Tuesday's statement.

Xi told Hipkins that bilateral relations had "continued to develop in a healthy and stable manner, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples", according to a readout published by state broadcaster CCTV.