(BEIJING) - China said Tuesday that the global financial crisis would be a focus of talks between Asian and European leaders at a key inter-regional forum to be held in Beijing later this month.

"The financial crisis has caused concern in all countries," Liu Jieyi, assistant foreign minister, told reporters ahead of the Asia-Europe Meeting, or ASEM, to be held in the Chinese capital on October 24 and 25.

"The leaders (of Asian and European countries) will use the next summit as a platform to conduct in-depth discussions on how to extend cooperation, reinforce investor confidence and cope with difficulties," he said.

"Be it the current financial crisis and how to cope with it, or other topics, the summit will broach them in the spirit of dialogue, cooperation and mutual benefit," he said, without giving further details.

Currently, 38 heads of state and government have confirmed they will attend the summit, which is an informal forum aimed at facilitating dialogue between Europe and Asia.

ASEM was established in 1996, and currently has 45 members, including Asian and European countries, the European Commission and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEM Summit (Asia-Europe forum) in Beijing

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