CEBU, Philippines, Jan. (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed the Philippine initiative to forge closer cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

    The heads of state/government of ASEAN member countries attending the 12th ASEAN Summit held in Cebu, the Philippines, described the summit "very constructive" in the Chairperson's Statement of the summit entitled "One Caring and Sharing Community" released here Sunday.

    Calling the SCO "ASEAN's immediate neighbor and a potential partner in promoting peace, security and prosperity in the region," ASEAN leaders said in the Chairperson's Statement: "We tasked our officials to identify means of strengthening our linkages with the SCO, in addition to the existing arrangement between our Secretariats."

    As an inter-governmental organization founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 which now groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the SCO aims to promote regional security and fight against terrorism.

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

    On the Korean Peninsula situation, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed that "the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is an international priority."

    "We urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to desist from conducting further nuclear tests, and to rejoin the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treat at an early date," ASEAN leaders said in the Chairperson's Statement.

    In the statement, the leaders also expressed their full support for the six-party talks and other diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

    ASEAN leaders also expressed their continuing concern over instability in Iraq and the Middle East while reaffirming their commitment to the United Nations and their support for its comprehensive reform, including the enhancement of the voice and role of developing countries in its structure and processes.