China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has arrived in the Solomon Islands, the first stop of an eight-nation Pacific tour, where he is seeking a sweeping regional deal on security and trade.

Solomon Islands have rolled out the red carpet for Mr Wang, who was greeted by Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele when he landed in Honiara in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Mr Wang is expected to meet with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare later today, a month after it was revealed the two countries signed a security pact. 

Australia, the United States, Japan and New Zealand have raised concerns about the deal, which they say could give China a military foothold in the Pacific.

A leaked draft communique shows that China will seek an agreement with 10 Pacific Island countries covering policing, security, trade, marine and data communication.

The Solomon Islands government said in a statement Mr Wang would sign a number of cooperation agreements between the two countries in a two-day visit. The Chinese delegation of 44 includes vice ministers in foreign affairs, commerce, environment, and information officials.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a news conference in Washington DC the Pacific is New Zealand's home and any security challenges should be addressed by Pacific nations.

"I see (the communique) as China's trying to increase its engagement with sovereign nations, but expanding into a space that — actually the need around security arrangements — we are able to meet within our region," she said.

Loading

Meanwhile, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has arrived in Fiji on Thursday to meet with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, her first Pacific visit since being sworn in on Monday. 

Just days into the role, Senator Wong has wasted no time in signalling Labor's intention to work more closely with Pacific islands nations, sharing an address to Pacific leaders on Twitter soon after she was sworn in and travelling to Fiji barely 24 hours after returning from a Quad meeting in Tokyo. 

Honiara press to boycott press conference

Few details are known about the details of Mr Wang's trip and that could be compounded by a planned media boycott of a press conference to be held by the Chinese official and his Solomon Islands counterpart, Jeremiah Manele, after media learned of restrictions.

"According to the program, the press will be given the opportunity to ask only two questions," Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) President Georgina Kekea said in a statement.

"How ridiculous is that?"

She said journalists should be able to ask questions of behalf of the people. 

"What is the whole purpose of hosting such an event for the press when they are only allowed one question and directed to their Foreign Minister only?"

She said the boycott was not intended to disrespect the government but to showcase the media's disagreement with the restrictions. 

ABC/wires