"We may be far away geographically, but we are linked by common values and commitment," Rasmussen said on signing an Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme Arrangement with visiting New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

Key said New Zealand's engagement with NATO had developed considerably over the past decade, mainly through Wellington's involvement in the NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

"This arrangement is a move to capitalise on this engagement," he said.

In a comment on Twitter, Rasmussen said: "I thank Kiwi troops for their courage, professionalism and sacrifice."

The deal with New Zealand sets out steps to boost cooperation in fields such as cyber-defence, disaster relief, crisis management and training.

"We want to be even more closely connected with countries that are also willing to contribute to global security, where we all have a stake," Rasmussen said.

Hours before meeting Key, he announced he would travel next week to Australia, saying "both countries are making a real difference to our mission in Afghanistan."

New Zealand currently has 189 troops in the 130,236-member force ISAF force in Afghanistan, while Australia has 1,550 troops, the largest non-NATO contingent.

Rasmussen also welcomed Australia's decision to take the main mentoring role in the central Afghan province of Uruzgan from the US command.

NATO has already agreed partnership programmes with Sweden and Switzerland and is expected likewise to boost ties with Japan.

Key said in a statement that co-operation could come through " maintaining ongoing political dialogue on security issues of mutual interest, offering further NATO training opportunities to our defence force, and engagement with NATO as it moves to tackle emerging security challenges of interest to New Zealand."

The decision to deploy more ships to the Pacific Ocean and to expand defence partnerships in the region -- announced by Pentagon chief Leon Panetta Saturday -- reflects US concerns over China's rising economic and military might.

"All parties should make efforts to safeguard and promote peace, stability and development in the Asia Pacific," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters in response to a question on the US announcement.

"The practice of strengthening military deployment and alliances to give prominence to a military and security agenda is untimely."

In his speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue -- a major Asia security summit held in Singapore -- Panetta insisted the strategy was not a challenge to Beijing.

He said that "by 2020, the Navy will re-posture its forces from today's roughly 50/50 percent split between the Pacific and the Atlantic to about a 60/40 split between those oceans.

"That will include six aircraft carriers in this region, a majority of our cruisers, destroyers, littoral combat ships, and submarines."

The United States also plans to expand military exercises in the Pacific and to conduct more port visits over a wider area extending to the Indian Ocean.

"We welcome the United States to play a constructive role in the Asia Pacific region," Liu said.

He added Beijing hoped the "US side will respect the interests and concerns of all parties in the Asia Pacific, including China".

Beijing has been criticised for taking an increasingly assertive stance in the region -- particularly in the South China Sea which it claims almost entirely as its own, in conflict with other nearby countries.

At the summit, Japan's Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense Shu Watanabe also expressed concern over China's massive defence spending, saying the lack of transparency in the budget posed a "threat" to Tokyo.

China's military budget jumped 11.2 percent year on year to $106 billion in 2012, a rise that has caused unease around the region and especially in Tokyo.

Liu on Monday defended China's military spending, saying the nation's defence policy was transparent and added Beijing would not seek "hegemony when it is stronger".