CEBU, Philippines, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines signed agreements here Friday endorsing new initiatives in transport, energy and customs, immigrations quarantine security.

    The agreements were signed during the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) summit here Friday.

    The BIMP-EAGA report, which was prepared by Malaysia, as the standing chair, will be presented to the ASEAN leaders during the start of their Summit Friday afternoon at Shangri-La Hotel in Cebu.

    The signing of the agreements is considered a major breakthrough in ASEAN cooperation in simplifying the crossing-border customs, immigrations quarantine security sectors.

    The BIMP-EAGA is aimed at accelerating economic development in the region through increased investments, the development of humanresources, effective use of natural resources and stronger security measures.

    One of the documents signed on Friday is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Expansion of Air Linkages which designates seven major international airports to be granted fifth freedom traffic rights.

    These airports are Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei Darussalam, Pontianak and Balikpapan in Indonesia, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching in Malaysia and Davao and Zamboanga in the Philippines .

    The MOU provides for the multiple designation of airlines without restrictions on frequency and capacity and co-terminalization with stopover rights and code sharing arrangements.

    These initiatives are aimed at gradually increasing the number of air links in ASEAN, which, in turn, will lead to the steady growth of tourism in the sub-region.

    Cooperation in trade facilitation is likewise expected to be strengthened with the simplification of customs, immigrations quarantine security rules, regulations and procedures.