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The leader of the Australian Greens party, Bob Brown, says Australia and New Zealand should increase economic ties with Fiji and East Timor.
The Greens are likely to hold the balance of power in the Senate - the upper house - after Australia's election last month produced a parliament with no clear victor.
Senator Brown said Australia is right to support the return of democracy in Fiji.
But he told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat programme that China is a strong competitor in trade and education.
“It concerns me to see that Australia has so much more to do in terms of economic relationships with Fiji and Timor Leste who are turning to look at what China has to offer,” he said.
“So they can, but Australia has to be very well aware of that and see what better it can do.”
Source: Pacnews
