text: SE Asia Forges Closer Ties with China, Japan, S.Korea &lt;p&gt;\&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; By Ed Cropley&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; VIENTIANE (Reuters) - Leaders of 13 Southeast and Northeast\Asian states Monday underlined their determination to turn\growing economic power into political influence by establishing\a new summit-level grouping.&lt;/p&gt;