Japan and 10 Southeast Asian nations began a two-day summit yesterday marking three decades of relations, vowing to enhance economic ties and examining ways to strengthen security cooperation.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi showed his readiness to promote economic relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), agreeing to start talks on free trade agreements with Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

"(I am) not just launching the negotiations, I want to make them succeed, " a Japanese official quoted Koizumi as telling Philippine President Gloria Arroyo in a meeting before the main session began.

Japan's agreements with the three major Asean nations set no deadlines for the negotiations and similarly noted the both sides should pay "due consideration" to sensitive areas.

The talks could be difficult given Japan's highly protected farming, forestry and fisheries industries as well as its reluctance to accept nurses and other foreign workers, precisely the sectors where the three have something to offer Japan.

Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda emphasised the importance of the special summit with Asean leaders, their first-ever get-together hosted by a non-member

"It is an important meeting where we discuss not only the economy and the environment but also how we can work together to counter terrorism," he told reporters.

Japanese and Asean foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the summit, agreeing to push for an East Asian Community -- grouping Asean and the countries of Northeast Asia, according to a Japanese official.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi mentioned the importance of speedily establishing economic partnerships which are the basis of regional cooperation in the one-hour meeting but the Asean ministers wanted to go even further.

While agreeing to the importance of working towards a common community, "Asean foreign ministers said Japan-Asean relations, given their maturity, should expand into political and security areas from the economy and development," the Japanese official said.

The Tokyo summit, widely seen as Japan's bid to catch up with China and India in exerting regional influence, is due to issue a "basic document" defining the direction of future cooperation between Japan and Asean.

The document will be released after a final, half-day session on Friday and is expected to include a proposal for the creation of an East Asian Community.