Asian Leaders Agree to Promote Biofuels

ASEAN Leaders and their six Dialogue Partners prepare to sign documents during ceremony for the Cebu Declaration on Energy Security at the 2nd East Asia Summit in the ongoing 12th ASEAN Summit of Leaders with their six counterparts Monday, Jan. 15, 2007 in Cebu, central Philippines. The leaders are from left, President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Prime Ministers John Howard of Australia, Manmohan Singh of India, Helen Clark of New Zealand, and Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore (AP Photo/Pat Roque) (Pat Roque - AP)

CEBU, Philippines -- Asian and Pacific leaders signed an agreement Monday to help reduce their dependence on conventional sources of energy and promote the use of biofuels.

The Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security was signed by leaders from Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, China and South Korea after a three-hour summit in the central Philippine city of Cebu.

The agreement lists a set of goals for "reliable, adequate and affordable" energy supplies essential for sustaining economic growth and competitiveness.

The East Asia conclave came two days after the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations completed its annual summit in Cebu, vowing to strengthen political solidarity, fight terrorism and create a free trade zone by 2015.

The ASEAN leaders and their counterparts from six Asian economic powerhouses also pledged to pursue investments in regional infrastructure through greater private sector involvement.

The declaration calls for moves to improve energy efficiency and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, while urging countries to expand renewable energy systems and biofuel production and "for interested parties, civilian nuclear power."

It also calls for mitigating greenhouse gas emission and ensuring a stable supply of energy "through investments in regional infrastructure such as the ASEAN power grid and the trans-ASEAN gas pipeline."

The leaders also agreed to explore strategic fuel stockpiling to reduce their dependence on oil imports, according to the document.

China has been seeking greater influence over key energy markets while striving to alleviate worries over its huge and growing appetite for oil.

"China attaches great importance to energy security and energy cooperation," Premier Wen Jiabao said in a speech to the summit, adding that his nation "will continue to rely on itself to meet its energy need and priority will be given to raising energy efficiency."

He said there needed to be stronger dialogue on energy security as well as increased conservation and research on clean and alternative sources.

A statement on North Korea's nuclear weapons program was expected to be issued later Monday.