China's emergence as a growing world power also gives New Zealand the chance to play a new international role, as a bridge between East and West, University of Otago Prof Robert Patman says.
China's rise and its future place on the world stage will be highlighted at Otago University's 45th Foreign Policy School this week.
The latest three-day school is titled "China's Ascent: New Superpower or New Global System?" The annual gathering brings together leading international China scholars and New Zealand diplomats, policymakers, business people and members of the public.
Prof Patman, the school co-director and an international relations specialist, said prospects for a new "niche diplomatic role" were highlighted by New Zealand's success in becoming the first Western nation to sign a free-trade deal with China.
New Zealand was seen by China as a small but significant country, with an independent foreign policy, and not "an American lackey".
"I do think that China's emergence has created new diplomatic opportunities for New Zealand."
"It's something of a bridge between the West and emerging Asian powers."
Some critics might suggest New Zealand could "become a bit of a toady of an authoritarian regime", but he did not take that view.
China remained a "one-party state", but there was scope to continue to engage it quietly on human rights and environmental issues.
And New Zealand could also help other Western nations to better understand some less well-known aspects of life in China.
The Otago school could also shed more light on China and promote dialogue between Eastern and Western scholars.
The school, which starts at Salmond College, Dunedin, on Friday, is being held in association with the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University in Wellington.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will give the opening address.
The keynote address, on "China's Global Identities: the Schizophrenic Superpower", will be given by Prof David Shambaugh, of George Washington University, who is an international authority on contemporary Chinese affairs.
