Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday hailed the inaugural East Asia Summit (EAS) a success "in every aspect."

A smiling Badawi, who chaired the summit, told a press conference his observations on the outcome of the much-anticipated gathering held here on the heels of the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

"The meeting was successful. It was attended by all the leaders invited and proceeding in an atmosphere of friendship and understanding," he said.

The summit saw the participation of the leaders of 10 ASEAN nations, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Russian President Vladimir Putin also addressed the leaders during a special session of the Summit, as guest of the Malaysian government.

Badawi said the summit had a productive exchange of views on regional and international political and economic issues as well as on the challenges facing the region and the world.

"There was a high degree of acceptance that we have a common interest to see that this part of the world will continue to be one of peace, stability and prosperity," he said.

The decision to convene the First East Asia Summit in Malaysia was made at the 10th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos, in November 2004.

The 16 leaders signed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the East Asia Summit and adopted the East Asia Summit Declaration on Avian Influenza Prevention, Control and Response before concluding the summit Wednesday afternoon.

The Chairman's Statement issued after the meeting said the EAS will be convened annually, and the Second EAS will be held in Cebu, the Philippines on Dec. 13, 2006.

Source: Xinhua