Australia and New Zealand yesterday expressed grave concerns over developments in Hong Kong and the human rights situation in Xinjiang.

In the first face-to-face meeting between their leaders in over 15 months, the two countries presented a united front on China.

Australia is currently at loggerheads with Beijing, but New Zealand has strengthened economic ties and upgraded a free trade agreement this year with China.

That has led to speculation that Wellington may not be taking a strong enough stance on China's human rights issues, though New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern rejected such claims.

"Australia and New Zealand have broadly been positioned in exactly the same place on these issues consistently," she said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison backed Ardern, saying neither of the trading nations would ever trade away its sovereignty.

"There will be those far from here who would seek to divide us and they will not succeed," he said.

In a joint statement, the two leaders called on Beijing to respect the Uygurs' and other Muslim minorities' human rights and grant the United Nations unfettered access to the region.

China's foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said Beijing rejects the statement and that the two leaders "made irresponsible remarks, severely violated international law and basic norms of international relations, and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs."

New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern and Australia's Scott Morrison won't trade away sovereignty in their country's dealings with China. REUTERS

Oz and NZ leaders stand united on China issues