Shares in Asia have fallen on growing concerns that the debt crisis in the eurozone may spread to Italy and Spain.

因对于欧盟债务危机可能波及到意大利和西班牙的担忧不断增长，亚洲股市开始下跌。

Japan's main Nikkei share index was down 1.5%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was 2% lower.

The declines came after European stock markets fell heavily on Monday, especially in Italy, where the market in Milan lost 4%.

On Monday, eurozone finance ministers said they were ready to pass new measures to stop the crisis spreading.

'Contagion¹ risk'

The concern is that Italy and Spain may have to follow Greece, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland and seek a European Union and International Monetary² Fund (IMF) bail-out.

Eurozone finance ministers said increased efforts to "improve the euro area's systemic capacity to resist contagion（传染病，蔓延） risk" would include "enhancing the flexibility³ and the scope" of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).

This is the bail-out fund to which eurozone member states contribute.

Finance ministers also agreed to look at lowering the interest rates that Greece, Portugal and the Irish Republic have to pay, plus lengthening⁴ the maturities⁵（成熟，到期） of their loans.

"Ministers reaffirmed their absolute commitment to safeguard financial stability in the euro area," the finance ministers said in a statement after eight hours of talks in Brussels.

'Effective solutions'

Eurozone finance ministers also discussed how, and by how much, banks and other financial institutions could contribute to a new rescue package for Greece.

However, no final decision was reached on this, as it also has to be agreed with the IMF.

Speaking from Washington, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said it was not yet ready to discuss terms for a second Greek bail-out.

"Nothing should be taken for granted," she said.

Meanwhile, Greece's Prime Minister, George Papandreou, called for a comprehensive solution to his country's debt problems.

"I thus believe it is time now to address our fundamental problems head on and produce a comprehensive package of solutions that clearly signals our determination not to see the European project further damaged or destroyed," Mr Papandreou said in a letter to Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the eurogroup of finance ministers.