Beijing will host the 'World Toilet Summit 2004' from Thursday.

The three-day summit is expected to attract 150 academics, sanitation experts, toilet designers and environmentalists from some 20 countries, according to the organisers.

Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, will represent India and he will speak on 'Toilet - A Tool of Social Change'.

The guests will also celebrate the 'World Toilet Day' on November 19.

"At this premier event where the experts and industry stalwarts will converge, you will meet key practitioners, business strategists, planners and senior executives globally including government officials, municipal officers, researchers and senior managers from organisations that influence the toilet industry," an official from the World Toilet Organisation said.

The summit is in its fourth year. Previous hosts were Singapore, Seoul and Taipei.