Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) talks with Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (R) as they meet upon his arrival to take part in the 2nd East Asia Summit at the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, Jan. 15, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Liu Weibing) Photo Gallery >>>

    The 2nd East Asia summit opened Monday in Cebu. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and leaders of the 10 ASEAN member countries, and those of Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand attended the summit.

    With energy security, finance, education, avian influenza and disaster reduction topping the agenda of the 2nd East Asia Summit,the Chinese premier expounded China's position and expressed willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the above areas.

    Wen also elaborated China's stance on sticking to the path of peaceful development, saying that development was China's central task.

    "China needs peace, friends and cooperation," Wen said.

    China will expand trade and investment in other Asian countries and provide them with more assistance. China would also work to combine its and the common interests of other Asian countries more closely, he said.

    He reiterated that China's policy of good-neighborliness and friendship would remain unchanged.

    "We will continue to promote friendship and partnership with our neighbors to foster an amicable, peaceful and prosperous neighborhood and work with other countries to turn Asia into a harmonious, prosperous and beautiful home for us all," he added.

    Leaders of other participating countries also expounded their stances on the main themes of the summit.

    The Cebu Declaration on East Asia Energy Cooperation was signedand released at the summit.

    The Chinese premier and other leaders also attended the presentation by Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda on East Asian economic and financial situations.

    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), established in 1967 in Bangkok, groups Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

    The first East Asia Summit, attended by leaders of the 10 ASEAN member countries and those of ASEAN's six dialogue partners China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand - took place in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 14, 2005.

    The 2nd East Asia Summit, scheduled on Dec. 14, 2006, was postponed to January due to the devastating typhoon Utor, which ripped through the island country.