History prior to the first East Asia Summit
The concept of an East Asia Grouping has significant history going back to an idea first promoted in 1991 by then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
The final report in 2002 of

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At the Second EAS the EAS members signed the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security, a declaration on energy security and biofuels, containing a statement for members to

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Trade is an important focus for the summit.
As to trade and regional integration the following was noted in the Chair's report for the Second EAS:
12. We welcomed ASEAN's efforts towards further

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After the EAS was established the issue arose of whether any future East Asia Community would arise from the EAS or ASEAN Plus Three. Prior to the creation of the EAS it appeared that

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Russia
Russiaparticipated in the first EAS as an observer at the invitation of 2005 host Malaysia and requested to become a member. Its request to

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East Timor and Papua New Guinea
East Timor is a candidate ASEAN member seeking membership within five years (from 2006) and

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The relationship between the EAS on one hand and ASEAN Plus Threeon the other is still not clear. As discussed above, some countries are more supportive of the narrower ASEAN Plus Three grouping whereas others support the broader, more inclusive EAS. ASEAN Plus

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