Philippines ? Leaders from Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, China and South Korea met today to sign an agreement to help reduce their dependence on conventional fuels and seek new energy sources.

The East Asia conclave comes two days after the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations completed its annual summit in the central Philippine city of Cebu, vowing to strengthen political solidarity, fight terrorism and create a free trade zone by 2015.

The ASEAN leaders and their counterparts from six Asian economic powerhouses were set to sign a declaration on East Asian energy security and discuss investments in regional infrastructure, according to a draft agreement.

They also were expected to urge North Korea to return to international talks aimed at getting it to abandon its nuclear ambitions. The most recent round of talks on the issue broke down without progress last month in Beijing.

Other issues on the agenda are steps to eradicate poverty, improve education and cooperation in dealing with natural disasters.