CEBU, Philippines, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan have agreed to promote closer collaboration through expanded cooperation in counter-terrorism and maritime security, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo said here Thursday.

    At the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting on the sideline of the 12th ASEAN Summit and related summits, Romulo underscored the importance of sustaining initiatives for regional security, particularly the ASEAN -Japan Counter-Terrorism Dialogue which was launched in June 2006.

    "ASEAN and Japan's agreements to expand counter-terrorism and maritime security are important moves in advancing our common security agenda," Romulo said in a press release.

    ASEAN and Japan will hold their second Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Malaysia this year, according to the press release.

    On maritime security, Romulo said capacity building and the provision of modern equipment, ships and training would be major components of ASEAN-Japan maritime security cooperation given the region's archipelagic configuration.

    "Its much traveled seas, straits and sea lanes expose us to numerous hazards," he said, citing cooperation to secure the sea lanes within the region "a major initiative."

    Apart from intensified security cooperation, the 10-member ASEAN and Japan also agreed during the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting to work closer together in the prevention of pandemics such as the avian flu virus, development cooperation, culture, human resources and small- and medium-sized enterprises development.

    ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.