KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Brunei Darussalam supports Malaysia's proposal to host the East Asian Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur next year, said a joint statement issued here on Thursday.

    Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah expressed his country's support during a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the 8th Annual Consultation between Malaysia and Brunei in Putrajaya on Wednesday.

    The two leaders also agreed that EAS should be ASEAN driven, according to the joint statement, released at the end of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's three-day visit to Malaysia.

    Malaysia has repeatedly expressed its hope to host the inaugural East Asian Summit in Kuala Lumpur next year.

    The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta in June this year agreed on the framework for the East Asian Summit.

    Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), now grouping 10 countries in the region, was set up in 1967 to boost the regional cooperation.

    The statement said, "In this connection, the two leaders took cognizance of the size of the ASEAN market and the importance of the region as an attractive investment destination."

    "Towards this end, ASEAN member countries should cooperate to strengthen ASEAN regional integration."

    On bilateral matters, the statement said that the two leaders discussed proposals to resolve the maritime boundary issue and directed the senior officials of both countries to follow-up with discussions to resolve the issue.

    Abdullah and Sultan Hassanal also discussed bilateral civil aviation matters and instructed officials from both countries to meet.

    While expressing satisfaction at the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, the two leaders also exchanged views on cooperation in the field of agriculture.

    "The Prime Minister briefed His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei on efforts to reinvigorate and modernize the agriculture sector in Malaysia and agreed to share Malaysia's expertise and experience in this endeavor with Brunei," said the statement.

    They also exchanged views on the role of the Organization Islamic Conference (OIC) whose current chairman is Malaysia.

    "Both leaders proposed that OIC introduce economic and social programs to assist lesser developed member countries in order to empower the people, increase their income level and improve the standard of living," said the statement.

    The Ninth Annual Consultation between the two neighbors will beheld in Brunei next year. Enditem¡¡