CANBERRA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Australia is set to take a leading role in attempts to strengthen the Commonwealth of Nations to boost global trade and security.

Julie Bishop, Australia's foreign minister, on Monday confirmed she is working with her British counterpart on expanding Commonwealth membership beyond English-speaking nations.

"The British are keen to have a great revival of the commonwealth at this London meeting, with the royal family playing a big role, and there is a strong emphasis on trade after Brexit," she told News Corp Australia.

"There is a big push to extend the commonwealth beyond its old colonial image with a campaign to include new members which were not under British control. Mozambique has been -admitted and others are trying."

Bishop's comments came as she prepared to depart Australia for London where she will join Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).