The two-day 10th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) closed here Tuesday evening.

Speaking at a news conference of the conclusion of the summit, Bounnhang Vorachith, chairman of the current summit and prime minister of Laos, said that at the summit, the ASEAN leaders exchanged views on regional and international political and economic issues, including terrorism, the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East and Iraq.

He said the ASEAN leaders strongly condemned the recent terrorist acts and reaffirmed their firm determination to strengthen their cooperation to prevent adverse impact caused by the terrorist acts on the ASEAN countries, and called for the international community to support and assist ASEAN's efforts in countering terrorism.

He said the ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the nuclear problems on the Korean Peninsula, and agreed that there is a need to continue the discussions to promote mutual confidence and common approach. In this connection, the ASEAN leaders called on all parties concerned to reconvene the six-party talks at the earliest possible date.

The leaders expressed their concern on the violent situation in the Middle East and called for the creation of an independent Palestinian State along with the Israeli State that will lead the Middle East to a lasting peace.

They also expressed their concern on the grave situation in Iraq and called for the holding of an election as scheduled, and reaffirmed their position that the United Nations must continue to play a central role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq, Bounnhang told the news conference.

He said ASEAN leaders reaffirmed the importance of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, serving as Code of Conduct in the inter-state relations in the region to promote peace and stability in the region.

At the summit, the ASEAN leaders signed the Vientiane Action Program (VAP).

They agreed to establish the ASEAN Development Fund, which is a new decision made at this summit, Bounnhang said.

ASEAN leaders focused their discussion on the acceleration of ASEAN integration and the narrowing of the development gap within ASEAN and between ASEAN and other countries.

They agreed to convene the East Asia Summit in Malaysia in 2005, and tasked their ASEAN foreign ministers and senior officials to work out the details relating to the EAS and the question of participation. They also agreed to convene the ASEAN-Russia Summit in Malaysia in 2005 on the occasion of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia and the Second ASEAN-UN Summit in New York in 2005 during the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly.

ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the One China policy and believed that the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits conforms to the common aspiration of all countries in the region.