"We should never forget to cultivate, the expanded fellowship, companionship, indeed agreement with foreign countries, people by people, not politicians. Otherwise all sorts of cloistered, arrogant, self-centred people might be the controlling feature of our future."
"And that's why we should never make comment on what this person's like, what that person's like."
Peters said he had met Russian President Vladimir Putin and others but he did not express a view of them because it did not help his country.
Speaking on denuclearisation of North Korea, Peters said it was critical it occurred.
"I do think a whole lot of countries will have to step up to ensure, including the influence of China, to ensure it both happens and that we give North Korea cause for it to happen by ensuring that they have an economic future."
Peters said there was no doubt in his mind that US President Donald Trump's meeting with Kim in Singapore was the right thing to do.
"I would always applaud people who meet and converse even if they have a wide variance in their opinions and their views."
