A record of more than 2,500 guests will attend the 2007 Annual Meetings of the Board of Governors of African Development Bank (ADB) Group, ADB said here Saturday.

The number of the attendees have far exceeded the previous ones, said ADB spokesperson Chawki Chahed.

This is the second time the ADB is holding its annual meetings outside Africa and first time it is held in Asia.

"Although the ADB serves as a regional organization, it needs to step out of Africa," said Jaques Loehr, a senior official with BNP Paribas.

Being held in China provides the ADB an opportunity to achieve more influence, Loehr said.

This conference will deepen the friendship between Africa and China and promote the two parties to further cooperation based on mutual benefits, Chahed said.

China joined the ADB in 1985. In May 2006, the ADB board approved at its 42nd annual meetings of the board of governors that the next annual meetings would be held in Shanghai from May 16 to 17.