By Jonathan Kent BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur

At present, Taiwan has the world's tallest skyscraper

The Kuala Lumpur gathering is the first global meeting of architects and engineers since the investigations into the consequences of the 11 September attacks in 2001 were completed.

The attacks have prompted a major rethink of how tall buildings should be designed.

Gene Corley, who headed the investigation into the collapse of New York's twin towers, says they remained standing longer than expected after being struck by aircraft.

However, he believes two design changes could have reduced the number of casualties.

He will tell the conference that emergency escape routes should be spread out so that a disaster would be less likely to render all of them ineffective, as they were in the two towers where they were grouped close together.

A look at the world's tallest skyscrapers In pictures

He also wants to see better fireproofing, as fire was a major factor in the buildings' collapse.

Other speakers have yet more imaginative proposals.

Anthony Wood of Britain's Nottingham University wants tall buildings to be joined by a series of bridges between their upper levels to provide an additional means of escape.

He would also like to see those floors linked by aerial walkways given over the shops and other facilities, to created a city in the sky.