Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 0630 GMT, April 24

A three-day political dialogue at the national level is underway in Taunggyi, Myanmar's Shan state, prior to the upcoming second meeting of the country's 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference.

Representatives from the self-administered regions and zones submitted a total of 70 papers respectively related with politics, economy, land issues and natural resources and environmental conservation which were read on Sunday, the first day of the dialogue, official reports said Monday. (Myanmar-Political Dialogue)

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CANBERRA -- The Australian government has announced it will pursue a free trade agreement (FTA) with China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in an attempt to secure further service export opportunities for Australian businesses.

Australia's Trade Minister Steve Ciobo said securing an FTA with the Hong Kong economy would "strengthen the trading partnership" with one of Australia's "most significant" trading partners. (Australia-FTA)

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WELLINGTON -- New Zealand is to have a new foreign minister from next month to replace the long-serving Murray McCully, Prime Minister Bill English announced Monday.

Gerry Brownlee, currently the Defense Minister, will take over the foreign affairs portfolio as McCully resigns from the Cabinet ahead of retirement and the government readies for a general election in September. (New Zealand-FM)

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ISLAMABAD -- At least four paramilitary troops were killed and three others injured when a bomb hit their convoy in Pakistan's southwest Kech District Sunday night, local media reported.

Dawn News said that Frontier Corps personnel were on their way to Mand area when their convoy was hit by a remote controlled device in the Kech District of the southwestern Balochistan Province. (Pakistan-Bomb) Endit