East Asian leaders vowed on January 15 to reduce the region's dependence on conventional fuels by pushing for alternative energy sources - from biofuels to nuclear power - amid recurrent supply problems in the region.

The leaders from 16 East Asian countries also agreed in a declaration they signed on January 15 to "explore possible modes of strategic fuel stockpiling" amid the continued volatility of oil and other fuel prices on the world market.

These modes could include "individual programmes, multi-country and/or regional voluntary and commercial arrangements," the declaration said, cited by Deutsche-Presse-Agentur (dpa)

To help the region become more energy efficient, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a USD two-billion aid package. "For the purpose of eliminating poor access to energy in East Asia countries, we will offer USD two billion of aid," he told the East Asia Summit held under tight security in the central Philippine province of Cebu.

A Japanese official privy to the meeting - held as part of the annual leaders summit of the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) - said the aid would focus on developing energy-saving technologies.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, chairman of the summit, said the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security expressed the leaders' collective commitment to reduce dependence on conventional fuels.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Beijing "attaches great importance to energy security and energy cooperation" and was prepared to take "an active part in international cooperation to ensure stability of the regional and global energy market."

In the declaration, the 16 countries agreed to closely work together "to reduce dependence on conventional fuels through intensified energy efficiency and conservation programmes, hydropower, expansion of renewable energy systems and biofuel production/utilization and civilian nuclear power." They also vowed to "mitigate greenhouse-gas emission through effective policies and measures."