Enhancing ties and promoting free trade agreements with Pacific and Asian nations are main features of National's foreign affairs and trade policies.
The policies were released today and foreign affairs spokesman Murray McCully said New Zealand should chart its own course in international affairs.
"While also building on key bilateral relationships, such as those with Australia, we also need to further strengthen our relationship with the US, increase the level of discussions with our neighbours in the South Pacific, and build on relationships with Asian countries," he said.
The policies say National will:
* ensure that the nuclear-free legislation remains in place;
* Put a high priority on liberalising trade with the US through the P4;
* Review New Zealand's network of overseas posts to ensure there is a focus on key countries and key markets;
* Maintain current and future aid spending levels laid out in Budget 2008; and
* ensure that terrorist groups and their financing operations are properly identified and designated.
Trade spokesman Tim Groser said there was unmistakable international evidence that higher rates of productivity were associated with higher rates of exports.
"The next National government will set aspirational goals," he said.
"We will look to increase the ratio of exports to GDP from 30 percent - one of the lowest in the OECD - to 40 percent."
Trade Minister Phil Goff said National was imitating Labour's policies but it couldn't be trusted.
"Its frequent policy flip flops show a lack of understanding and commitment in this and other areas," he said.
"The truth is that National's leader, John Key, has neither the depth of understanding of foreign policy nor the principled commitment to it to resist subordinating New Zealand's independent position if pressured to do so."
