The White House said on Thursday the United States will host the next Group of 20 economic summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in September.

"The United States will host the next G20 summit on September 24 and 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

He said that Pittsburgh was chosen because it has experienced its share of economic hard times but is turning that around.

The G20 includes the Group of Eight richest countries -- the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Britain, Canada and Russia.

Other members are the European Union, Argentine, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey.

Top officials from the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund will also be present at the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2009)