Leaders will discuss the goal of economic integration, expected to be realised by 2015 [AFP]

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) conference is being attended by leaders from China, Japan and South Korea, who will be joined by their counterparts from India, Australia and New Zealand on Saturday.

A separate study for a wider economic partnership also covering India, Australia and New Zealand would also be carried out in tandem, said officials.

"We're going to do this two-pronged, meaning in parallel," Vitavas Srivihok, director-general for Asean affairs at the Thai foreign ministry, told the AFP news agency.

"Right now we (Asean) have bilateral free trade agreements with all six countries completely. Now we should explore a feasibility study both in the East Asia Free Trade Area and with (India, Australia and New Zealand)."

Quick rebound

Asia's quick rebound from the global recession compared with the US and other Western economies has prompted calls for the region to increase integration.

According to conference documents, Asean will follow up on China's $25bn initiative to promote infrastructure development in Southeast Asia, Japan's programme on the use of efficient energy and a $100m South Korean project to help the region respond to climate change.

As at previous summits, a call for North Korea to give up its nuclear programme and return to disarmament talks is expected.

Leaders will also flesh out details on how Asean plans to realise its goal of economic integration by 2015.

Rights panel unveiled

When the summit opened, Asean unveiled the region's first human rights commission, but it was immediately criticised by activists who pointed out that its mandate did not extend to prosecution of violators like Myanmar, an Asean member.

The activists were also angered by the exclusion of several members of civil society from the summit.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Thai prime minister, described it as "a significant milestone" in the 42-year history of Asean.

The group has traditionally steered clear of rights issues because of its reluctance to meddle in the internal affairs of member nations.

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