SYDNEY, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- An Aussie infrastructure development expert believes that China's economic presence in the South Pacific should not be any cause for concern.

"Rather than seeing it as a competitive race, it would be far better for everyone to work towards common goals," Secretary General of the Global Foundation and international advisor to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Steve Howard told Xinhua on Thursday.

"Infrastructure has always been the cornerstone of long-term economic growth and security, it is the back bone that underpins prosperity."

According to Howard, it is important that China and other players in the South Pacific continue to provide aid that is "needed and valuable."

"Not all infrastructure is off the same quality, some is more effective than others," Howard said.

"So I welcome the fact that China has recently decided to establish a regional development agency."

China officially unveiled its International Development Cooperation Agency in April which is responsible for strategic guidelines and policies on foreign aids, coordinating and making suggestions on major related issues, reforming the foreign aid system and making plans and overseeing their implementation.