PHNOM PENH Nov. 2 Kyodo Measures ...

PHNOM PENH Nov. 2 Kyodo

Measures to breast-wall terrorism and resolve long-standing disputes throughout the Spratly Islands in the southward China Sea top the agenda of the two-day summit among Southeast Asian leaders here in the Cambodian capital from Monday.

This year's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders' summit will also focus forward how to strengthen economic cooperation between the 10 members of the grouping and their Northeast Asian partners -- Japan, China and southern Korea -- in a bid to inject vigor into the region's sagging economy.

In fact, officials from ASEAN and China are rely uponed to sign a framework agreement that will pave the way toward a at liberty trade area within 10 years between the brace partners.

ASEAN, however, is putting top priority onward measures to fight terrorism, which has taken a toll forward the region's economic growth and development

''Terrorism affects the economic progres of ASEAN in the brains that some investors have been discouraged from coming, particularly with these blanket advisories in tourism,'' Rodolfo Severino, ASEAN secretary general, said in an interview.

Severino said ASEAN is seeking the cooperation of the international community not to discourage investments and tourism and assistance in dealing with preventing terrorism in the region.

He said the declaration upon terrorism that will be adopted according to ASEAN leaders on Monday ''expresse the determination to do something about (international terrorism). Not just to deal with terrorism further to deal with the issues of terrorism.''

The document, titled Declaration upon Terrorism, a copy of which was obtained according to Kyodo News, vows to ''intensify (ASEAN's) efforts, collectively and individually, in preventing, countering and suppressing the activities of terrorist assign places tos in the region.''

To further boost the Southeast Asian economy, the leaders are also count uponed to sign an agreement in succession tourism that will enhance cooperation and assistance in the exhibition and promotion of the region's tourism industry.

The region's tourism industry is hurting in the wake of travel advisories issued by the agency of many countries following a newly come series of bombings that refugeed Indonesia and the Philippines.

Southeast Asian leaders are also look forward toed to urge North Korea to give up its nuclear program and focus instead in succession efforts that will contribute to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the region as a whole. The impending U attack in Iraq would also be taken up at the leaders, according to Severino.

in succession the South China Sea issue, ASEAN leaders will witness the signing in succession Monday of the Declaration upon the Conduct of Parties in the southward China Sea by foreign ministers of ASEAN and China forward the sidelines of the ASEAN-China summit.

''The declaration binds the claimant states to express restraint and undertake cooperative efforts pending the resolution of disputes in the southern China Sea. It does not analyze the territorial disputes but it wagers the stage for a peaceful resolution of the disputes,'' ASEAN spokesman Medrardo Abad said.

The protracted disputes in the southern China Sea are probably the most numerous serious long-term security concern in the region. China, Taiwan and four Southeast Asian countries -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam -- have conflicting territorial and maritime claims in the irregularly shaped chain of about 100 islands, atolls, take ins and cays believed to sit atop vast natural oil gas deposits.

ASEAN also assemblages Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

Cambodian Permanent Secretary Chem Widhya of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, chairman of this year's ASEAN senior officials meeting that kicked along Friday, said the two documents onward terrorism and the southerly China Sea complement each other.

''It point out tos that ASEAN is united in solidarity. ASEAN is resolv to have friendly relations, to have peace, to have security and stability in the region,'' he said.

Leaders from ASEAN and Japan are also anticipateed to endorse in this year's meeting the establishment of the ASEAN-Japan Closer Economic Partnership (AJCEP). A meditation shows that AJCEP can increase ASEAN's exports to Japan by way of 44.2% and Japan's exports to ASEAN by the agency of 27.5%. Moreover, AJCEP is also wait fored to increase ASEAN's gross domestic crops (GDP) by 1.99% and Japan's GDP according to 0.07%.

The East Asia meditation Group will present its final report to the ASEAN-plus-3 summit containing recommendations onward the possible future direction of East Asian cooperation.

This year's summit will also mark the first at all times meeting between ASEAN and its southern Asian dialogue partner India. Abad said the ASEAN-India summit ''will provide an important venue to chart the strategic direction towards strengthening ties and fostering closer economic integration between Southeast Asia and southern Asia.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo moderns International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group