NUSA DUA (Indonesia), Oct 7: Southeast Asian leaders called on Tuesday for faster moves towards a European-style single market to revive their one-time miracle economies, and pledged to step up the fight against terrorism.

But the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) spared the blushes of fellow member Myanmar, making no mention during their summit of its crackdown on the opposition and detention of Aung San Suu Kyi.

A statement by chair Indonesia after the meeting said leaders praised “recent positive developments” in the army-ruled state — an apparent reference to the democracy leader’s transfer to house arrest — and said sanctions were not helpful in bringing about democratic change.

The 10 presidents or prime ministers met in the resort island of Bali almost one year after nightclub bombings there killed 202 people.

“We are not intimidated by terrorism,” Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was quoted as saying by delegates and officials.

Leaders also called for the convening of six-party talks on the North Korea nuclear crisis and expressed “great concern” over the situation in Iraq and the Middle East. They called for the UN to play a greater role there, according to the statement.

The focus of the meeting was on plans to achieve a single production base and market by 2020, with a free flow of goods, services and investments in the region of 530 million people.

Once the world’s fastest economic growth area, Southeast Asia has not fully recovered from the 1997/98 financial crisis. It faces increased competition from China for foreign investment.

Several countries pressed for an earlier deadline. “Our economic community may be further pushed earlier, instead of 2020... five years faster,” an official said.

No firm decision was taken but the official said: “I think there’s some consensus on that.”

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called for the single market to be brought forward to 2012 and Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong wanted 2015, a Thai delegate said.

He quoted Thaksin as telling the meeting that more developed states should open markets more quickly, with poorer states following suit when they are able.

“All the leaders agree that cooperation to overcome terrorism must be strengthened,” another delegate said. “By holding the meeting in Bali, it is ASEAN collectively saying to the terrorists that we will not.”

Officials said Myanmar Prime Minister Khin Nyunt gave a statement outlining his position on ASEAN issues, but made no mention of Aung San Suu Kyi or his proposed “roadmap” for democratic reform.

“Myanmar didn’t come up at all this morning. They talked among themselves bilaterally but not at this forum,” said senior Myanmar foreign ministry official Thaung Tun. Other officials confirmed this.—AFP