Five major public land development ventures in Taiwan bagged awards May 15 at the 63rd World Congress of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Three leading Taiwan business figures will continue serving as the economy?s representatives on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum Business Advisory Council, the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs said May 16.

Taiwan?s economy will pick up steam from the third quarter in tandem with improving business conditions worldwide, according to the latest Ifo World Economic Survey released May 16.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute, one of Taiwan?s leading scientific centers, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Energy Research Center of the Netherlands to develop green energy applications.

The ROC Ministry of Culture, which is set to open May 21, will become the central base for developing the thought and creativity of the Chinese-speaking world, according to Council for Cultural Affairs Minister Lung Ying-tai.

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said he hopes Taiwan and Japan can strengthen bilateral economic cooperation to create a prosperous future for the people of both nations.

The ROC Mainland Affairs Council called on Beijing May 16 to respect Taipei?s stance on human rights and view the issue as a normal part of cross-strait exchanges.

Chen Yuh-chang, minister of the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, is attending the International Organization of Securities Commissions annual conference May 13-17 in Beijing. Chen is expected to meet with his mainland Chinese counterpart, Guo Shuqing, to exchange views on cross-strait financial cooperation.

Taiwan and Hong Kong should make full use of their respective representative offices and actively push for bilateral cooperation and exchanges at all levels, according to the Mainland Affairs Council May 15.

A strategy to promote overseas investment in Taiwan was unveiled May 15 in Taipei City by the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs.