VIENTIANE, Laos, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Leaders from 49 Asian and European countries met Tuesday in Laos to discuss the need for stronger economic cooperation between the two regions.
The chairman of the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, released a statement Tuesday saying leaders of the 49 countries encouraged the sharing of experiences, including implementing regional crisis management arrangements like the European Stability Mechanism, Japan's Kyodo News reported.
Participating leaders committed to refraining from implementing new barriers to investment or trade. They also discussed climate change, sustainable development and nuclear safety, in addition to sociocultural cooperation.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang Sik spoke one-on-one Monday night, agreeing to the importance of bilateral ties that have frayed since the South Korean president visited a pair of islets in the sea between the two countries. The islets are controlled by South Korea, but claimed by Japan, Kyodo reported.
