Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed closer ties in a bid to combat a spate of hijackings by Islamist militants.

Three Southeast Asian nations are to establish a designated transit corridor for commercial vessels off the southern Philippines in an area affected by the attacks, reports Reuters.

“The ministers have agreed in principle to explore the following measures, including a transit corridor within the maritime areas of common concern, which will serve as designated sea lanes for mariners," the defence ministers of the three nations said in a joint statement after a meeting in Manila.

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