Reviewing the progress achieved by South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, leaders of the grouping have advocated greater cooperation among the members.

At an informal ministerial level meeting of the 8-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, the leaders discussed the need to expand cooperation among members of the bloc.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee chaired the closed door meeting, which heard a report of SAARC's work since the last summit in New Delhi in April.

Following discussion, Mukherjee hosted an 'iftar' reception for the SAARC delegates on Wednesday.

India along with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka [Images] are members of the group.

Mukherjee also had intensive discussions with Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the international security situation, with particular reference to Afghanistan.

The two leaders emphasised the importance of continued international cooperation in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, officials later said.

At a separate meeting, Mukherjee and European Union's High Representative for the Common Security and Foreign Policy Javier Solana reviewed preparations for the forthcoming India-European Union Summit in the context of expanding and rapidly developing relationship, particularly in trade and economic fields.

Mukherjee and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni examined areas for further cooperation in such areas as high-technology at their meeting.

They also reviewed bilateral relations with a view to strengthen them. After a hectic day of bilaterals, Mukherjee left for Washington to lead the Indian delegation to the climate change conference convened by US President George W Bush [Images].