Just days out from APEC, China has warned of a "cold war mentality" toward the Pacific in an apparent reference to Australia's pledge to increase its influence in the region.

Key points: China's Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang urged Australia to "objectively look at relations" within the Pacific region

China's Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang urged Australia to "objectively look at relations" within the Pacific region A strategic studies professor said Canberra's best option was to build on long-standing cultural and political links

A strategic studies professor said Canberra's best option was to build on long-standing cultural and political links Bob Carr suggested Environment Minister Melissa Price's previous comments had strengthened China's position in the Pacific

The strongly-worded comments set the stage for a tense forum, to be held on the weekend in Port Morseby, Papua New Guinea, and due to be attended by both Mr Morrison and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

They follow the Government's recently-unveiled "pivot to the Pacific", with the Prime Minister promising closer defence and security ties with Australia's Pacific neighbours as a bulwark against rising Chinese influence.

"The Pacific Island region is not a sphere of influence of any country," Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang told reporters in Beijing.

He also urged Australia to "objectively look at the relations between China and the Pacific Island countries and to abandon Cold War mentality and the zero-sum game mentality, which are both outdated."

Mr Zheng also warned that China's cooperation with Pacific nations could not be blocked, announcing that Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet leaders from eight Pacific nations in a meeting before the APEC summit in Port Moresby.

"Other countries should not obstruct China's friendly cooperation and exchanges with the island nations," Mr Zheng said.

"Of course, they have no way to obstruct this cooperation and these exchanges."

China's President will attend APEC. ( Reuters: Ludovic Marin )

Former Labor Foreign Minister Bob Carr, who now heads the Australia China Relations Institute, told AM recent reported comments from the Environment Minister Melissa Price to former Kiribati President Anote Tong had strengthened China's position in the Pacific.

"We run the risk that the leadership of one of these small island developing states faced with rudeness or ignorance from Australia will say, look you don't want us to take aid from China, we might as well do it," Mr Carr said.

Ms Price reportedly accused the Nobel Peace Prize nominee of coming to Canberra to ask for cash and joked she had her chequebook at the ready.

As president, Mr Tong severed ties with China and recognised Taiwan, denying Beijing access to an important satellite tracking station.

Hugh White, retired professor of strategic studies at Australia National University, said Mr Morrison would have a difficult job at APEC.

"The Government has raised very high expectations particularly amongst the South Pacific countries that they are going to see a whole new generation of Australian largesse," Professor White said.

"I don't get the impression the Government has many details to offer them."

Professor White said Canberra's best option was to build on long-standing cultural and political links, neglected over recent years.

"We're going to have to have something much more sophisticated than just turning up with a slightly bigger chequebook than China, partly because China's chequebook is very big and partly because just spending money isn't actually what it's about."

ABC/ Reuters