Another accusation of petty politics against National

Winston Peters says a suggestion ministers have been blocked from visiting China, is balderdash.

Simon Bridges made the comment during question time yesterday.

The Foreign Affairs Minister says much work is underway on upgrading our free trade agreement with the super power - and just last night the Chinese Ambassador invited him for dinner.

He says a lot of erroneous, fictitious comments are being made by the opposition for political purpose.

Peters says worse than that, the neutrality of politics around foreign policy has been abandoned ... to try to get some petty advantages.

National also stands accused of pettiness, after forcing the abandonment of a select committee meeting yesterday, when some of its MPs refused to cover for a Labour MP who was sick.