The ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded Wednesday its ninth Summit that also involved the leaders of China, India, Japan and South Korea, held on the resort island of Bali on October 7-8.

"We the ASEAN leaders held a meeting with each of the leaders of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and India. During the meetings, all leaders of the dialogue partners expressed their support for the Bali Concord II as a solid platform to achieve an ASEAN Community based on political, security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation," chairperson of the summit, Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri, said in the conclusion remarks.

"We are heartened that China had committed itself to enhancing its relations with ASEAN by acceding to the TAC (Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in East Asia). We welcome China's accession to the TAC as a factor that would contribute further to the region's long-term peace and stability," she said.

China earlier in the day signed accession to the TAC that was issued by ASEAN in 1976. The treaty is aimed at promoting perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and peaceful settlement of disputes.

Megawati said ASEAN and China had agreed to strengthen partnership in trade, investment, technical cooperation and social and cultural dialogue to promote stability and prosperity in the region.

Besides the TAC, China and ASEAN signed Wednesday a joint declaration on strategic partnership for peace and prosperity.

"The declaration would serve as a blueprint for fostering the partnership between the ASEAN states and China for peace and prosperity, its signing marked the beginning of a new stage in our relations," Megawati said in a press conference.

On ASEAN-Japan relations, the chairperson said the ASEAN leaders encouraged Japan to consider its accession to the TAC.

"We reiterate the importance of ASEAN-Japan relations, which have been mutually beneficial and have matured in a period of over30 year," she said.

ASEAN agreed to strengthen cooperation with Japan by promoting a comprehensive economic partnership through capacity building, narrowing the developments gap, engaging in sustainable development as well as establishing a free trade area in the future.

The proposed ASEAN-Japan commemorative summit is also agreed by ASEAN to be held in Tokyo in December, co-chaired by Indonesia, as the ASEAN chair, and Japan.

"We hope that the summit will provide future directions for ASEAN-Japan partnership and bring about substantive and tangible agreement that encompasses concrete action plans," Megawati said.

Similar call for the accession to TAC was delivered to South Korea, with whom ASEAN has established cooperation for 14 years.

"We reaffirm that ASEAN-Republic of Korea relations, which have flourished in recent years, are very important and agree that there is a need to further strengthen our cooperation," Megawati said, adding that the ASEAN summit next year will attach great importance to mark 15 years of ASEAN-Korea relations.

On two-year-old relations with India, Megawati said that ASEAN warmly welcomed India's accession to TAC as it confirmed India's strong determination to contribute to peace and stability in the region.

India also has signed with ASEAN the framework agreement on comprehensive economic cooperation. "The agreement would strengthen and enhance economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two sides," said Megawati.

ASEAN, which was founded in 1967 under the Bangkok declaration, comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The internal summit was held on Tuesday, resulting in the declaration of the ASEAN Concord II, which provides a framework toward the ASEAN Community by 2020.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2003)