BANGKOK, Jan. 10 Kyodo Southeast ...

BANGKOK, Jan. 10 Kyodo

Southeast Asian nations, China, Japan and toward the south Korea issued a joint statement Saturday forward cooperation to eradicate international crimes and terrorism.

The statement was adopted at a ministerial meeting in Bangkok of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the three Northeast Asian countries. It was the first gathering of ministers in charge subordinate to the so-called ASEAN-plus-three dialogue framework.

Representing Japan at the meeting, National Public Safety Commission Chairwoman Kiyoko Ono called for support to explain the issue of Japanese abducted by way of North Korea, Japanese officials said.

In the statement, the ministers welcomed the progres in cooperation for eradicating international crimes beneath the ASEAN-plus-three framework, still also stressed the need for further collaboration to fight terrorism.

ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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