Julia Gillard will meet the most powerful woman in US politics when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Australia next month as part of a two-week tour of the Asia-Pacific region.

The visit will be her first to Australia in the role given to her by President Barack Obama in 2008.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd and Defence Minister Stephen Smith will also meet Mrs Clinton for discussions on regional and global security.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates will also be here for the 25th annual Australia-US ministerial consultation in Melbourne.

Mrs Clinton's visit will come at the end of a six-week regional tour of Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Cambodia and Malaysia. Mr Obama sees South-East Asia as a key diplomatic priority.

Mr Rudd said the visits were welcomed by the government and diplomatic community.

"We look forward to hosting Secretary Clinton and Secretary Gates, two of the highest ranking members of President Obama's cabinet, in Melbourne.'' he said.