Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and South Korea had "a very fruitful discussion" at their seventh summit in Bali, Indonesia Tuesday, according to the meeting's chairperson.

The discussion covered regional and international political, security and economic issues, and the cooperation and partnership between ASEAN and the three countries were consolidated and reaffirmed, the chairperson said in a press statement issued Tuesday afternoon.

The leaders welcomed and firmly supported the adoption of the Bali Concord II, the statement said.

It said that the leaders exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed their support to a peaceful solution of the nuclear issue facing the peninsula through dialogue. They welcome the convening of the six-party talks as a positive step towards this end and will work together to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula.

The leaders endorsed the Implementation Strategy of the Short-Term Measures of the Final Report of the East Asia Study Group (EASG) and welcomed the Report of the ASEAN+3 Study Group on Facilitation and Promotion Exchange of People and Human Resources Development, the statement said.

They also discussed the progress of the Initiative for Development in East Asia in the framework of ASEAN+3 Cooperation, it said.

The leaders committed themselves to sustaining the ASEAN+3 process so as to achieve greater synergy through broader and deeper cooperation, the statement said.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2003)