AUSTRALIAN schoolchildren would be required to learn an Asian language under a proposal put forward by Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop.

Ms Bishop says she will push to have the plan adopted as coalition policy before the next federal election.

"I believe that we should have a much greater focus on a second language," she told Sky News today.

"In fact my view is it should be mandatory.

"It should be an Asian language. I wouldn't necessarily say it has to be Mandarin. Japanese, Indonesian - there are a number of Asian languages that would be important."

Such a policy would help Australia engage with its increasingly important region, Ms Bishop said.

"It would be brilliant form of soft diplomacy if we had a large body of people in Australia who were able to speak an Asian language," she said.

Ms Bishop also wants to see an expanded two-way student exchange program.