East Asia called to tie up to ensure energy security
Thursday, 24 July 2008
SINGAPORE, July 23 (Xinhua): Foreign ministers of the ASEAN and their counterparts from Asian six key dialogue partners agreed yesterday to strengthen cooperation to ensure the region's energy security.
During the one-day East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers' informal consultations, the ministers called for strengthening dialogue and communication between energy producers and consumers, encouraging the private sector to participate in the development of alternative energy sources like hydro-power and biofuels, as well as concrete measures to address the problem of oil speculation, said a chairman's statement issued late Tuesday night.
The ministers also noted that food security was another key concern for EAS countries.
"Various ideas were suggested, includings the use of high yield agricultural seedlings, greater research and development, as well as developing techniques to exploit more inhospitable agricultural environments for food production," said the statement.
Thailand, which will succeed Singapore as the next rotating ASEAN chair, said it intends to focus on the issues of food and energy security, as well as disaster prevention and management when leaders attend the East Asia Summit in December in Bangkok.
The foreign ministers said they looked forward to substantive and productive discussions among the leaders on these issues. They reaffirmed their belief that the EAS could contribute to the global dialogue on these issues.
During the one-day East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers' informal consultations, the ministers called for strengthening dialogue and communication between energy producers and consumers, encouraging the private sector to participate in the development of alternative energy sources like hydro-power and biofuels, as well as concrete measures to address the problem of oil speculation, said a chairman's statement issued late Tuesday night.
The ministers also noted that food security was another key concern for EAS countries.
"Various ideas were suggested, includings the use of high yield agricultural seedlings, greater research and development, as well as developing techniques to exploit more inhospitable agricultural environments for food production," said the statement.
Thailand, which will succeed Singapore as the next rotating ASEAN chair, said it intends to focus on the issues of food and energy security, as well as disaster prevention and management when leaders attend the East Asia Summit in December in Bangkok.
The foreign ministers said they looked forward to substantive and productive discussions among the leaders on these issues. They reaffirmed their belief that the EAS could contribute to the global dialogue on these issues.