Leading finance officials from 38 Asian and European countries and the European Union are expected to gather in north China's port city of Tianjin on June 26 to discuss issues concerning the global economy and closer Asian and European economic cooperation, the Finance Ministry said Thursday. 

Addressing a press conference on the Sixth Asia-Europe Finance Ministers' Meeting, Li Yong, vice minister of finance, said the meeting will facilitate the expanding cooperation between Asia and Europe and promote common prosperity.

Representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank will also attend the meeting.

The documents, to be made public following the meeting, include a statement by the chairperson of the meeting, the Tianjin Initiative, and a report on the effectiveness of the ministerial meeting. 

The ministerial meeting was launched in 1997 following the Asia-Europe Meeting in 1996, when leaders of some Asian and European countries met to seek economic consultation and cooperation between Asia and Europe.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2005)