BANGKOK, Dec. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and three other Asian countries have pledged here to root out human trafficking in the region.

    At the opening ceremony of the 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting onSocial Welfare and Development on Thursday, Thai Social Development and Human Security Minister Sora-at Klinpratoom said the conference represented an important opportunity for Asian countries to develop regional peace and security.

    Sora-at said that an agreement on fighting human trafficking would be signed and strategic plans would be drawn up in a bid to solve social welfare problems in the region, the official Thai News Agency reported on Friday.

    Thailand has already signed agreements on fighting human trafficking with Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and China.

    "ASEAN cooperation in social welfare and development must include the easing of hardship caused by poverty, disease and social inequality," said Sora-at, taking into consideration of themembers' vast disparities in wealth.

    Other issues such as migrant labour, the changing nature of family life and the spread of AIDS were also discussed at the meeting.

    It is the first time ministers from South Korea, China and Japan joined in the two-day conference, which concluded on Friday.Enditem