DHAKA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A six-day international symposium on climate change and food security in South Asia will begin in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Aug. 25.

    Briefing newsmen at a press conference here on Saturday, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University SMA Faiz said, "Distinguished climate experts from 18 countries including Bangladesh, China, France, India, Iceland, Japan and the United States will participate in the symposium, as climate change is now the hottest topic across the world."

    Dhaka University (DU) and Ohio State University (OSU) of the U.S. are jointly organizing the symposium in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

    Faiz said a total of 65 research papers on climate change and food security in South Asia will be presented at the symposium to be held in nine sessions.

    He said Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the symposium as the chief guest while chief Adviser of the country's caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed will attend the closing session as the chief guest on Aug. 30.