ASEAN Economic Community

CEBU, Philippines — Southeast Asian leaders have agreed to begin writing a regional charter to create a more closely integrated regional bloc similar to the European Union and to jointly combat terrorism and cross-border crimes, according to a draft of their final statement obtained by The Associated Press on Friday. The statement also includes an agreement on the protection of migrant workers — a major issue in the region — and a vow to create an "ASEAN Economic Community" with a free flow of goods, services, investment and capital by 2015. The 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have long voiced support for a joint charter, but the process of writing one remains in its initial stages. Officials here say they see the declaration as a starting point for the charter, and have refused to speculate on when it might actually be completed.

• JJ Commentary: First the European Union. Next the North American Union and the Asian Union. New World (Dis)Order on its way.