Japan's Senior Vice Foreign Minister Ichiro Aisawa on Thursday called on Asian-Pacific countries to adopt an international treaty aimed at cutting the flow of funding to terrorists.

"Of the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, only five have ratified this convention," Aisawa said at a seminar held by the Foreign Ministry to promote the adoption of the treaty.

"The delay in adopting the treaty could attract terrorists to this region," he added.

The three-day seminar through Friday is aimed at informing countries in the region about the domestic legislation process taken by Japan and other nations which have ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Sixteen countries, including ASEAN member states, East Timor and Australia, as well as senior officials of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime are taking part in the seminar.

The convention went into force in April 2002.

Source: Xinhua