US Secretary of State arrives in Sydney for high-level diplomatic talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Sydney for high-level talks with the federal government.

Senator Kerry's blue and white US government jet touched down at 2pm (AEST).

He had flown in from ASEAN talks in Myanmar with Australia's foreign minister, Julie Bishop.

Ms Bishop accompanied Senator Kerry down the steps from his plane to the tarmac, where he was greeted by NSW Premier Mike Baird, Australia's ambassador to the United States Kim Beazley, US ambassador John Berry and US consul-general Hugo Llorens.

After a brief exchange with members of the greeting party as chilling winds swept the airport, Senator Kerry was ushered into a black BMW saloon, which left in a 20-vehicle convoy with a police motorcycle escort.

Senator Kerry and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel are in Australia for the annual Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations, starting in Sydney tomorrow.

Mr Kerry and Ms Bishop, building on their talks at the ASEAN forum on the weekend in Mynamar, will also consult on regional architecture.

"They will discuss Northeast Asia and compare notes about respective relations with China, the challenges posed by North Korea," an official from the US State Department said.

"And I am sure they will also discuss Japan," the official added, noting that the US, Australia and Japan have for some time held trilateral security meetings.

The ministers will also look at international hot spots and challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.

"That will include issues related to Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East, Gaza, Iran, Iraq and Syria and importantly Afghanistan where there is an extraordinary record of Australia-US cooperation," the official said.

The high-level annual talks, last held in Washington, will also look at transnational threats; focusing on counterterrorism, the threat of returning foreign fighters and radicalized citizens and climate change.