The 3rd East Asia Summit (EAS) opened in Singapore on Wednesday,
with the climate change, energy and environment issues topping the
agenda.
Sixteen leaders from the EAS will sign a declaration on climate
change, energy and environment that is expected to encourage
greater attention to climate change, improve energy efficiency, and
ensure sustainable development of the region.
Attending the 3rd EAS are "ASEAN Plus Three" countries (Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea)
and three additional member countries (India, Australia and New
Zealand).
The leaders will discuss the impact of global warming and
climate change and called on concrete efforts involving the
international community in addressing these challenges, said the
Joint Communique of the 40th ASEAN ministerial meeting held in
Manila, Philippines in July 2007.
ASEAN leaders said in a Chairman's Statement of the 13th ASEAN
Summit Monday after the conclusion of the ASEAN Summit that they
pledged to deepen cooperation in a wide range of activities,
including combating transboundary environmental pollution, and
ensuring the conservation and sustainable management of natural
resources.
When first held in 2005, the EAS countries decided to intensify
regional cooperation in five areas of concern -- finance,
education, health disaster mitigation and energy security.
(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2007)
