Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will visit Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong next week.
During her visit to these two countries, she hopes to conclude Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
According an Australian Foreign Ministry media release, Bishop will visit these two countries and Hong Kong from October 14 to October 20.
Bishop is expected to meet students, alumni, academics and business leaders in the region to explore how young Australians will be able to capitalize on the study and internship opportunities to be offered under the New Colombo Plan, a 100 million AU dollar (94.7 million U.S. dollar) government program aiming to encourage more Asians to study in Australia and more Australians to study in Asia.
In Japan, Bishop is expected to meet her counterpart Fumio Kishida and members of the Diet.
In South Korea, Bishop will meet Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, Trade Minister Yoon Sang-jick and other Cabinet members.
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Bishop will also become the first Australian foreign minister to address a major international forum on cyber space when she attends the Seoul Cyber Space Conference on October 17.
Her visit to Hong Kong will reinforce its importance as an economic partner and as a leading regional base for Australian business.
In Hong Kong she will meet Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So.