(Photos: Xinhua)

    HANOI, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Asian and European leaders on Saturday concluded their fifth ASEM summit here after reaffirming their desire to further push economic partnership, enhance cultural exchanges and increase political dialogues between the two continents.

    "It is gratifying to see that ASEM 5 has come to a successful conclusion," said Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai at the closing ceremony.

    He said that the meeting "will go down into history as the first summit of an enlargement ASEM, a summit of bold vision and strong resolve to elevate the Asia-Europe partnership to a new stage of more substantive and effective cooperation, particularly in the economic and cultural domains."

    The leaders from 13 Asian and 25 European nations and the European Commission at the two-day meeting adopted the ASEM 5 Chairman's Statement and the Hanoi declarations on closer ASEM economic partnership and dialogue among cultures and civilizations.

    The meeting decided that ASEM 6 is to be hosted by Finland in 2006.

    On the political dialogue, the Vietnamese prime minister said, "we share the view that in order to effectively deal with emergingchallenges, we should join our efforts to foster dialogue and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, understanding, equality and mutual benefit to secure our fundamental interests ofstability and development."

    A chairman's statement adopted by the meeting said the leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to effective multilateralism and to a fair and just rule-based international order, with the United Nations playing the central role.

    The leaders reiterated their support to the ongoing process of the reform of the United Nations system.

    They also condemned the series of terrorist attacks and reaffirmed their strong commitment to combat international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

    However, they stressed that the fight against international terrorism requires a comprehensive approach, collective efforts, and international cooperation where the United Nations plays the leading role, and must be in accordance with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and basic norms of international law, including those of non-interference, respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty, respect for human rights and rule of law.

    On the economic cooperation, the meeting adopted the Hanoi Declaration on Closer Asia-Europe Partnership, setting out directions and measures for strengthening ASEM economic cooperation.

    They agreed to carry forward ASEM economic activities, taking into account the Trade Facilitation Action Plan, Investment Promotion Action Plan, and other forms of economic cooperation.

    They also pledged to strengthen financial cooperation to establish a sound, sustainable and resilient architecture to cope with potential financial shocks, and to support broad-based and sustainable growth in Asia and Europe.

    The meeting also adopted the Declaration on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations, to underscore the importance of dialogues among cultures and civilizations in order to ensure ASEM's unity in diversity.

    The leaders endorsed a wide range of new initiatives to promoteand expand cooperation in the domains of culture, social affairs, education, health care and environment.

    The leaders agreed to step up educational exchanges with the aid of the programs within its institutions and called on ASEM to enhance and intensify youth exchanges between Asia and Europe through youth-friendly plans covering ASEM Youth Games and ASEM Young Political Leaders Forum.

    ASEM, which began its process in 1996, constitutes a forum for informal dialogue between the heads of states and governments to exchange their views on important issues agreed upon by all ASEM partners. It holds a summit every two years and the venue alternates between Asia and Europe.

    For the future of ASEM, the leaders agreed to turn ASEM into a mechanism of broad cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit, laying the foundation for a comprehensive Asia-Europe partnership in the 21st century.

    One of the achievements of the ASEM 5 was its enlargement. Thirteen new members, including three Asian countries and 10 European Union new members, were officially admitted to ASEM on Thursday, bringing the total members to 39.

    After enlargement, ASEM includes 10 ASEAN countries as well as China, Japan and South Korea, and all the 25 EU members and the European Commission. Enditem