Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a news release that she would travel to the Solomon Islands and New Zealand, in her third visit to the Pacific since being sworn in last month. 

Australia was committed to deepening cooperation with the Solomon Islands on shared challenges, including climate change, and Wong would meet with Sogavare, the statement said.

"I look forward to discussing the ways we can continue to make progress on pandemic recovery, economic development and labor mobility priorities, and addressing our shared security interests," she said.

The Solomon Islands security pact, as well as a proposal by China for a sweeping security and trade agreement with 10 Pacific islands nations, will be discussed at next month's Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Suva, several island nations have said.

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, met with Sogavare in Honiara last month as part of an eight-nation Pacific tour, agreeing to deepen cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands in fisheries, mining, infrastructure and trade.

Wang said the security pact with the Solomon Islands would improve policing and protect Chinese citizens and institutions there.

"China supports Pacific Island countries in strengthening security cooperation and working together to address regional security challenges," he said during the visit.

Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States have said they are concerned Beijing could establish a military presence in the Pacific, although Sogavare has denied the pact would allow a military base.

On Monday, China and New Zealand’s foreign ministers spoke on a video call late and discussed China's role in the Pacific region, the two countries confirmed in separate statements.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta underlined the importance of engagement taking place in a manner that advances Pacific priorities, was supportive of Pacific regional institutions such as the Pacific Islands Forum and addressed the significant challenges in the region, according to a statement from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in his statement that Beijing respected the traditional ties between New Zealand and the Pacific island nations and wanted to participate in more multi-party cooperation projects with New Zealand.

"The cooperation between China and Pacific island nations that China has diplomatic relations with can go hand in hand with existing arrangements in the region and complement one another," Wang said in a statement.

Mahuta also voiced New Zealand’s views on sensitive issues, including human rights issues in Xinjiang, the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong and the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to MFAT.

Fiji told a security conference in Singapore over the weekend that climate change was the most pressing security concern for the Pacific islands.

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