A symposium focusing on green building development is to take place with the aim of bringing nearly 20 Taiwanese and French government officials, scientists and architects together on the issue, the event organizers said yesterday.

Taiwanese experts are in Thailand to help local farms keep plant diseases from affecting crops such as citrus fruit and mushrooms, according to an official with the Taiwan government-funded agency that is running the project.

President Ma Ying-jeou said yesterday that the outcome of the fishery negotiations between Taiwan and Japan have so far been positively received by all parties involved.

Taiwan and Canada are set to hold their annual economic consultation in Ottawa on Monday to discuss important trade issues.

Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs Chang Chia-juch said yesterday on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting that Taiwan and Singapore are continuing talks on signing a free trade agreement (FTA) and results are expected to come soon.

Opposition lawmakers are seeking to revise a law that would make it less tricky for foreigners to become Taiwan citizens, allowing them to keep their original nationalities after being naturalized.

Taiwan and the Philippines inked a legal assistance pact Friday after nearly two years of coordination and consultations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a red travel alert for the Central African Republic on Friday, after clashes between rebel fighters and residents were reported in the country's capital Bangui.

A government-run youth ambassador program has selected 35 teams from 19 universities to promote Taiwan's culture and expertise overseas this year, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

President Ma Ying-jeou said yesterday that the signing of a fishery pact between Taiwan and Japan is a prelude to a settlement of the two sides' dispute over the Diaoyutai Islands and the first step in fulfilling his East China Sea Peace Initiative.