Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after a meeting with his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern today that the two sides agree on their policies towards the Pacific islands, where China's influence is growing, AP reported, quoted by BTA.

Ardern is the first foreign leader to visit Australia's new prime minister since his election on May 21.

Both lead center-left governments, and Ardern described the election victory of Albanese's Labor Party after nearly 10 years in opposition as a restart of bilateral relations.

Australia, New Zealand and the United States fear that the new security pact between Beijing and the Solomon Islands could lead to the establishment of a Chinese military base there.

Both the Solomon Islands and China deny the possibility of this happening.

Asked by reporters if Australia wanted New Zealand to do more to counter China's rise in the Pacific, Albanese said: "We think alike about the Pacific."

Australia has spotted a Chinese reconnaissance ship off its coast

"I look forward to working with Prime Minister Ardern and our democratic neighbors," Albanese told reporters in Sydney.

Ardern said many countries have chosen to maintain economic relations with China instead of signing security agreements.

"Let's hear the views of the Pacific countries on these issues," she said.

Albanese said Australia's neighbors, the region's largest donor of foreign aid, were taking it seriously, as its government had promised more action on greenhouse gas emissions.

Many Pacific islands consider climate change to be the most immediate and even existential threat to them.

The previous Australian government has pledged to reduce Australia's emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels. The Albanian government has promised a 43 percent reduction.

"New Zealand is encouraged by Australia's growing ambition," Ardern said.

New Zealand's goal is to reduce its harmful emissions by 30 percent by the end of the decade.

"The Pacific region identifies climate change as the number one threat," Ardaen said.