AFP news says the 16 members of the East Asia Summit (EAS) have agreed to cooperate to further expand their influence in the world.

The report said that in a statement adopted at the summit held in Hua Hin, Thailand, over the weekend, the summit leaders agreed to work to expand the influence of EAS at key global decision-making forums, such as the Group of 20 financial summit.

The 16 EAS member states agreed to meet again before next year's G20 summit.

The East Asia Summit consists of the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India.