At a meeting in Beijing, members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) agreed to strengthen regional and international cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

The three-day meeting which ended Friday was attended by diplomatic and public security officials from the 25 ARF member states.

The fourth ARF Inter-session Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, was co-chaired by Cui Tiankai, China's Assistant Foreign Minister and Hajah Maimunah, deputy permanent secretary of Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Delegates agreed that international terrorist activities had become localized and now involved use of more advanced technology. In a statement they urged that all countries participate in international and regional cooperation. .

They also discussed strengthening cooperation in fighting terrorism and transnational crime in the Asia-Pacific region.

ARF, the biggest security forum in the Asia-Pacific region, brings together the 10 members of ASEAN and 15 other countries including influential players like the United States, the European Union, China, India, Japan and Russia.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2006)