Condoleeza Rice to visit next week

United States Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will visit Perth on Thursday and Friday next week.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith confirmed Dr Rice's visit today, which will be only the second visit to the Perth by a US Secretary of State.

The first was George Schultz in 1985.

"The visit by secretary Rice follows my personal invitation to her to visit my hometown and electorate when we first met in Washington in January this year," Mr Smith said in a statement.

"Secretary Rice's visit highlights the ongoing strength of our alliance relationship with the United States, which spans 60 years and is built on a firm foundation of shared values and democratic traditions.

"Australia and the United States remain committed to working together to face shared global and regional strategic challenges."

Australia's alliance with the US began with Prime Minister and Member for Fremantle, John Curtin, during World War II, Mr Smith said.

"Secretary Rice's visit is an opportunity to share with her the pride Western Australians have for John Curtin's foresight in securing our post World War II economic and strategic security," he said