Climate change was on top of the agenda of the second day of the summit, which the leaders saw as a serious threat to sustainable development and the future of the earth.

    In a declaration on climate change, the leaders sent a strong message on their commitment to this global issue.

    "The global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation and participation in an effective and appropriate international response," the declaration said.

    The leaders reaffirmed their determination to honor commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol.

    "We will cooperate to further implement the convention and its protocol including through strengthening the capacity of and providing financial and technical assistance to ASEM developing countries," they said in the declaration.

    The leaders pointed out that climate change and energy security are interrelated.

    They asked for more international cooperation to promote development, transfer and deployment of low carbon technology and access by developing ASEM countries to cleaner and climate-friendly technologies.

    They also called for the enhancement of energy efficiency and more use of new and renewable energy.

    On globalization, the leaders exchanged views on how to manage the rapid transformation and structural change of their countries' economies while recognizing the need to tackle the challenges of globalization and to extend its benefits to all.

    The leaders expressed "deep regret" about the suspension of the Doha Round global trade talks under the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    They called on all parties to the negotiations to show the necessary political will and flexibility to allow the negotiations to resume as soon as possible. They emphasized the importance of achieving an ambitious and balanced outcome resulting in new commercial opportunities and improvement of existing global trade rules, while taking into account the needs and interests of developing and least developed countries.

    The leaders underlined the importance of flanking such an agreement with appropriate measures aimed at further integrating developing and least developed countries in global trade.

    The leaders cautioned that regional trade agreements should support and further the objectives of the multilateral trading system.

    They also discussed regional issues ranging from the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and Iran, as well as the situation in the Middle East, in particular Lebanon and Iraq.

    Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who chaired the meeting, hailed the gathering as "historic."

    "Ten years of dialogue and cooperation provide us with a very solid foundation and allow us to set clear guidelines for the future," said Vanhanen in his closing speech.

    This year's meeting marks the 10th anniversary of ASEM.

    He urged partners to keep up work to reinforce the partnership.

    He welcomed the inclusion of India, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat in ASEMon the Asian side.

    Romania and Bulgaria, which are set to join the EU in 2007 or 2008, were also accepted as new members.

    The summit was attended by leaders of the 25 EU member states and 13 Asian countries -- the 10 ASEAN members and China, South Korea and Japan. Barroso attended the meeting on behalf of the European Commission, the EU executive body. Enditem