The 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) next weekend in Beijing is set to host its largest gathering of Asian and European leaders since the biennial summit was established in 1996, a senior Chinese diplomat said yesterday.

"Among the 44 foreign members of the Asia-Europe Meeting, state and government leaders of 38 countries have confirmed they'll attend the summit," Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi told reporters ahead of the summit, to be held in the capital on Oct 24 and 25.

"It is the highest attendance rate of state and government leaders in the summit's history And it will be another important international gathering to be held by China this year, following the Beijing Olympics."