Pacific leaders meeting in Nauru have signed a security agreement that addresses climate change and crimes such as drug smuggling and illegal fishing that cross borders.
Leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum say they consider climate change their nations' biggest security threat, since low-lying Pacific islands would cease to exist as sea levels rise.
The signing of the security declaration, which also addresses cybercrime and health concerns, was the centrepiece of the three-day meeting.
Nauru President Baron Waqa, left, talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern before the Pacific leaders gather for a photo opportunity Source: AAP
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier arrived in Nauru to attend an all-day leader's retreat and the signing ceremony.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pacific fishing and community groups signed an agreement with the European Union to improve sustainable fishing and ocean governance in the region.
Under the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership, the EU will provide 35 million euros ($A56.3 million) and Sweden will provide 10 million euros over five years. The program will provide direct assistance to regional
organisations.
Tensions over China and refugees have been running high at the forum after Nauru on Tuesday accused a Chinese official of bullying and temporarily detained a New Zealand journalist.
Nauru President Baron Waqa said a Chinese official had demanded to be heard when other leaders were due to speak, and had been "very insolent" about it.
"Maybe because he was from a big country he wanted to bully us," Waqa said.
Nauru recognises Taiwan and doesn't have diplomatic relations with China.
Nauru police detained Television New Zealand journalist Barbara Dreaver for about three hours after she was spotted interviewing a refugee outside a restaurant.
Nauru has been eager to limit discussion during the forum of the more than 600 refugees who live on the tiny island under a controversial agreement with Australia.
Dreaver said she was just doing her job and Amnesty International NZ has condemned her detention.
"Journalists have an obligation to report on human rights abuses and on things of concern, and certainly from what we've understood there's been confusion around what the rules and regulations of the visa were," Amnesty NZ's campaign director Meg de Ronde said.
"Detaining a journalist who is simply conducting an interview on a public street is a particularly over the top reaction to the situation.
"It seems particularly concerning that the Nauruan government is trying to claim that refugees are free to go about their business on the island, while also applying particularly draconian levels of control over who can talk to them and how, this doesn’t look like a free society."
