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Asian nations look to closer ties Asian nations pledge closer ties
(about 2 hours later)
A joint charter, trade and terrorism are on the agenda of the annual summit of South-east Asian leaders which has opened in the Philippines. Ten Asian nations meeting at their annual summit in the Philippines have agreed on closer ties, anti-terrorism and moves towards free trade.
The regional leaders hope to transform the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) into a closer political unit, with a free trade zone by 2015. The leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) agreed to form a closer political unit and to bring in a free trade zone by 2015.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo opened the meeting by appealing to Asean's "sense of community". They agreed to consider plans which would replace Asean's consensus politics with a tougher stance.
The counter-terrorism pact they signed obliges them to share information.
The Asean leaders who came to the central Philippines island of Cebu were undeterred by a series of bombs on Wednesday in the southern island of Mindanao that killed seven people.
But some 8,000 police and soldiers are on duty for the weekend summit.
'Maturity'
In the past, Asean has been portrayed as little more than a talking shop.In the past, Asean has been portrayed as little more than a talking shop.
"Asean is committed to expanding its trade forum to become the largest in the world," said President Arroyo, welcoming regional leaders to the central Philippines island of Cebu.
They were undeterred by a series of bombs on Wednesday in the southern island of Mindanao that killed seven people.
However, security is tight on Cebu, with some 8,000 police and soldiers on duty for the weekend summit.
'New order'
An EU-style charter for Asean would give the body a legal basis for the first time in its 39-year history.
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS BruneiBurmaCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeThailandVietnamASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS BruneiBurmaCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeThailandVietnam
Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos, a member of the charter drafting group, said it would allow the bloc to compete in the "new order of the 21st Century". However, on Saturday its leaders signed a commitment to create Asean's first-ever charter, aimed at turning it into a European Union-style entity with binding rules and regulations.
A key proposal is to give Asean the power to sanction and, in extreme cases, expel members for non-compliance. "Asean has matured into a regional organisation and is expanding its role as an integrated regional economy and a dynamic force in maintaining regional peace and stability," the signed statement said.
This could have an impact on Burma, whose military government has been slow to move towards its pledge of greater democracy, frustrating other Asean members. The charter would, the leaders said, be the "crowning achievement of 40 years of Asean".
During the summit, leaders are also expected to bring forward the establishment of a regional free trade zone by five years, to 2015. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that Asean was committed to "expanding its trade forum to become the largest in the world".
Some members said this would ensure the region did not lose out on business opportunities and investment to giant neighbours China and India. The counter-terrorism pact signed also allows for joint training aimed at stemming terrorism and cross-border crime.
And terrorism will also be top of the agenda, with leaders expected to sign a pact pledging closer co-operation in the fight against radical groups such as regional militant network Jemaah Islamiah. And a statement was signed on protection for millions of migrant workers.
China, South Korea, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand will hold meetings with the Asean leaders on Cebu over the next two days.