A World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting will be held as planned on May 20-22 in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh despite Monday's deadly bombings in the Red Sea town of Dahab, state media reported Wednesday.

WEF President Klaus Schwab made the announcement during a phone conversation with Egyptian Minister of Home, Foreign Trade and Industry Rashid Mohammed Rashid, the Egyptian Gazette said.

Schwab said the WEF would go ahead with plans to hold a meeting of Middle Eastern government and business leaders in Sharm el- Sheikh in defiance of the terror attacks in Dahab, located some 85 km north of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The Dahab bombings killed at least 23 people and injured dozens.

Schwab, WEF's founder and executive chairman, expressed his confidence that the Egyptian government would contain the negative impacts of the Dahab bombings, which he condemned as "evil terror, " said the daily.

On Tuesday, Schwab sent a message to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, saying that an unchanged schedule aimed to prove to the whole world that political and economic leaders were capable of shouldering their responsibilities.

For the sake of a more peaceful future for humankind, "We have to show our solidarity by holding this meeting," said Schwab in his message.

The theme of the meeting is inspired by the vision of renaissance shown by political, business and civil society leaders in the Middle East, the daily said.

During the meeting, the participants will discuss ways to enable businesses to compete globally, geopolitical challenges in the region and dialogue between the West and Islam.

Source: Xinhua