The US government says President Joe Biden will host the first ever US-Pacific Island Country Summit later this month in Washington.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre released a statement on Friday.

The statement said that the two-day summit from September 28 will "demonstrate the United States' deep and enduring partnership with Pacific Island countries and the Pacific region that is underpinned by shared history, values, and people-to-people ties."

It said the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific, climate change and maritime security will be on the agenda, among other issues.

However, the White House has yet to disclose which countries will be taking part.

China, which the Biden administration regards as the number one rival of the US, is expanding its influence in the region. In April, Beijing signed a security cooperation agreement with the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.

Observers say Washington is aiming to counter China by forging deeper ties with the Pacific region.