CEBU, Philippines, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The 12th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has paid particular attention to narrowing development gap among the ASEAN member countries, says a summit chairperson's statement made public here Sunday.

    Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

    The statement said: "We noted that the Mid-term Review of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan has recommended new project areas to benefit ASEAN New Members, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam."

    The statement said leaders of the member countries recognized that the IAI needs more resources to meet the new members' urgent needs and those of the ASEAN sub-regions.

    The leaders also called for developing a coherent and integrated approach to infrastructure development, particularly transport linkages, in order to narrow development gaps.

    They agreed to promote greater education cooperation among their countries and to strengthen education within them, in order to narrow the region's development gaps, to prepare their youths for regional leadership, and to increase the competitiveness of their peoples.

    The development gap among the ASEAN member countries is quite big. A 2005 survey showed that the average per capita GDP of Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia was relatively high, reaching 26,500, 17,000 and 5,000 U.S. dollars, respectively. While that of Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam was relatively low, standing at 110, 400, 620, 640 dollars, respectively. Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines were of the middle level, with the figures being 2,730, 1,270 and 1,160 dollars, respectively.