Australia agreed to buy K9 Thunder artillery from South Korea and increase ties between their defense industries as the nations cemented a new comprehensive security partnership amid increasing tensions with China.

The countries also pledged to boost critical minerals and clean-energy trade in pacts signed by President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Canberra on Monday. It was the first visit by an international leader to the nation since it started reopening its border this month.

"We share a view about the role of liberal democracies in today’s world and particularly in the Indo-Pacific,” Morrison told reporters after signing the four pacts. "We understand how important it is for the rule of law, for multilateral organizations that are based on a world order that favors freedom, that countries in our own region can have choices, choices in their economy, choices for their peace and security.”