The Cebu Declaration on Energy Security was signed Monday afternoon by the 16 leaders of East Asia Summit (EAS) at the Cebu International Convention Center.

With the high cost of energy continuing to cast a shadow over regional economies of the region, EAS leaders agreed to strengthen regional cooperation on energy security to ensure a stable and affordable supply over the long term.

The agreement aims to help the countries in the region reduce dependency on conventional fuels through intensified energy efficiency programs, expansion of renewable energy systems and bio-fuel production and utilization.

The leaders also agreed to pay close attention to the security, environmental, health and safety dimensions of the energy sector and tasked their respective officials concerned to look into regional nuclear safety regime.

The 16 countries attending the EAS are the 10 ASEAN members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, ASEAN Plus Three: China, Japan, Republic of Korea and three additional members of the EAS: India, Australia and New Zealand.

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(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2007)