Australia has cemented ties with Fiji, with Anthony Albanese signing two agreements with the Pacific nation in a bid to counter Chinese influence in the region.

WHAT HAS AUSTRALIA SIGNED?

* Australia and Fiji have agreed to a major defence agreement called the Ocean of Peace Alliance

* Mr Albanese signed the agreement with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Monday while visiting Suva

* The alliance means an attack on either Australia or Fiji would involve the other country coming to the other's aid

* Leaders would also have to consult the other country if there were security issues that threatened the sovereignty of the other

* It's just the fourth formal defence alliance Australia has signed, following on from agreements with the US, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea

* It is the first alliance Fiji has signed

* Other Pacific countries may also be able to join the alliance if there is unanimous consent

* The two countries also agreed to the Vuvale Union, a separate agreement which had been under negotiation for several months

* The Vuvale Union covers issues on the economy, health, migration and climate change

* Both agreements have been backed with a $1 billion commitment over the next 10 years

* It comes after Australia signed a $500 million deal with Vanuatu called the Nakamal Agreement, as well as a defence pact with PNG called the PukPuk Treaty