Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao(C) attends the signing ceremony of Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security in Cebu, Philippines, on Jan. 15, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

    CEBU, Philippines, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Second East Asia Summit (EAS) concluded here on Monday with leaders from 16 EAS nations signed a declaration on energy security which would help shape a common regional policy for energy issues, including the development and use of alternative and renewable forms of energy.

    With the high cost of energy continuing to cast a shadow over the economies of the region, leaders of the EAS agreed to strengthen regional cooperation on energy security to ensure a stable and affordable supply over the long term.

    The Cebu Declaration on Energy Security was signed Monday afternoon by the 16 leaders of EAS in the Second East Asia Summit at the Cebu International Convention Center.

    The agreement aims to help the countries in the region reduce their dependence on conventional fuels through intensified energy efficiency programs, expansion of renewable energy systems and bio-fuel production and utilization.

    The leaders also agreed to pay close attention to the security, environmental, health and safety dimensions of the energy sector and tasked their respective officials concerned to look into regional nuclear safety regime.

    The 16 countries attending the EAS are the 10 ASEAN members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, ASEAN Plus Three: China, Japan, Republic of Korea and three additional members of the EAS: India, Australia and New Zealand.