Asian countries should institute long-term plans for energy sustainability and take a multilateral cooperation approach, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said on Tuesday.

"It (Asia) must be fully committed to a comprehensive strategy for sustainable energy management and cooperation throughout the region," Najib said in his luncheon talks for the "2006 International Energy Conference for a Sustainable Asia" near here.

When referring to the planned Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline and the Trans ASEAN Power Grid, Najib said those initiatives are "good examples of a multilateral approach towards energy sustainability and similar measures should be considered on a broader scale involving countries throughout Asia."

He expressed his hope that, with the full commitment of all nations involved, those two visionary aspirations will become a reality in the near future.

To allow for greater transnational cooperation on energy related matters, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries must be ready to make changes to their regulatory framework, Najib said at the Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel near the federal capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

"Bilateral power-sharing models such as the arrangement between Malaysia and Singapore as well as between Malaysia and Thailand could be established to further interconnection between ASEAN Countries," said Najib.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian leader noted the need to reduce dependency on traditional sources of energy and diversify sources of fuel through wider usage of renewable energy.

The inaugural meeting, which kicked off Monday, attracted energy officials, experts and industry players from China, India, Singapore, Australia and Switzerland among others.

The three-day conference is jointly organized by the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia and the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology.

Source: Xinhua