HANOI, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders attending the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit Saturday hailed the meeting a great success, and expressed their willingness to give full play to the role of ASEM in international arena in the future.

    At a press conference right after the two-day ASEM 5 summit ended, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said the summit hasproduced many successful results.

    The first notable result is that for the first time since its inception eight years ago, ASEM has been enlarged to embrace 13 new members, said Khai.

    Leaders of 38 member countries and the European Commission haveexchanged views in an open and constructive manner, contributing to improving their mutual understanding and thus, giving more momentum to the cooperation between Asia and Europe, said Khai.

    Three documents concerning political, economic and cultural cooperation were unanimously adopted by the leaders at the summit.

    "This is the first ASEM summit to adopt a document on the economic pillar. This attests to the common desire of member countries to further substantiate the partnership between the two continents," said Khai.

    In addition, the ASEM Declaration on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations has sent a strong message from the Hanoi summit on promoting more exchanges and greater cooperation in this essential area in the spirit of "unity and diversity," said Khai.

    The summit also endorsed initiatives in fields of economy, investment, trade, science and technology, information technology,culture and social affairs, public health, education and training.

    The successful implementation of these initiatives is likely tofurther revitalize and substantiate the ASEM process and produce specific results in dealing with imperative issues of the day, said Khai.

    At the press conference, Jean Claude Juncker, prime minister ofLuxembourg, said since he attended ASEM summit in Bangkok for the first time, he has seen ASEM growing to mature.

    Although differences among members of ASEM still exist, it is necessary to continue dialogue between the countries on the two continents, said Juncker.

    Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said that the ASEM 5 is very successful, and the enlargement to 13 new members is a fresh start to ASEM. Japan will continue to contribute to the future development of ASEM.

    Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, said the summit has achieved significant results in many areas such as security issues, international trade and global environment challenges.

    He said the ASEM is so important that it is the only place thatAsian and European leaders may have the chance to meet exclusively.And the forum will play a more important role in the future. Enditem