ALMATY (Kazakhstan), June 17: The Asian security summit that brought together the regional leaders China and Russia and 16 other nations ended on Saturday with a call to increase cooperation to fight terrorism, separatism and drug trafficking.

“We are convinced that multilateral cooperation ... is more necessary today than ever for maintaining regional and international peace and security,” the summit’s concluding statement read.

The delegations — including Pakistan and India, Israel, Palestinian Authority and Iran and six ex-Soviet republics — declared support for continuing reforms in the United Nations, opposition to the threat or use of force (against Iran), condemnation of terrorism, separatism, trans-national organized crime, illicit production and trafficking in narcotics, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and illicit weapons trafficking.

The declaration said: ‘Terrorism can not be and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group.”

The CICA members endorsed people’s right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

The declaration urged the states, which are party to a dispute, to settle them in conformity with principles enshrined in the UN charter.

The declaration termed the use of threats or force against sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of states as a threat to regional and international peace.

The delegates agreed to support nations’ access to nuclear technologies, materials and equipment and their use for peaceful purposes in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency obligations.

They held consensus that energy supply security and development of transportation and telecommunication networks were priority issues and that development of peace and human rights were inseparable.

They agreed on the need to promote tourism along the region’s ancient Silk Road. The leaders of China and Russia called for a multilateral approach to problems in Asia.—-Agencies