The Singapore-based World Toilet Organization has chosen Beijing as the site for the upcoming World Toilet Summit to highlight the Chinese capital's efforts to upgrade its public toilets.

"We want to showcase how a city that used to have not so good toilets can suddenly become so good," said World Toilet Organization founder Jack Sim.

Sim expected about 400 medical experts, urban planners, and delegates from around the world to meet at the November 17-19 crapper summit. Scheduled seminar topics include the societal impacts of toilets, setting standards for urban environments, town planning, and toilets in rural areas.

Beijing has upgraded its public toilets in recent years, and city fathers promise to spend 400 million yuan (48 million dollars) to renovate another 2,800 of the city's shithouses preparatory to the 2008 Olympics.

However, Beijing has cut the number of state-sponsored toilets from 7,700 to 4,700 and encouraged private enterprises, such as food service outlets, to offer their facilities to the pooping public. Local businesses have criticized the state's efforts to open stall doors to the messy masses, and continue to post notices on their front doors saying "no payee, no poopie."