CEBU, Philippines, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines agreed Friday to expand their air linkages in a move to further boost trade and tourism among the four countries.

    The four-nation Memorandum of Agreement on Expansion of Air Linkages in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) was signed by ministers of the four countries in the presence of Brunei Barussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Bambang Yudhoyomo, Malaysian Prime Minister Adbullah Badawi and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the third day of the 12th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) here on Friday.

    The 10 ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

    For the Philippines, the new accord will pave the way for Mindanao to be the country's new gateway to the neighboring countries, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

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