Zheng Lizhong (L), executive vice president of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), shakes hands with Kao Koong-lian, vice chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), prior to the start of a preparatory consultation for the fifth round of talks between the ARATS and the SEF, in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, June 24, 2010. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)
 

TAIPEI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The fifth round of talks between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Taiwan counterpart Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) will be held in Chongqing, in southwest China, on June 29.

SEF Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian announced this Thursday, saying the consensus was reached at a preparatory consultation held here between the ARATS and SEF Thursday morning to fix the details for the coming fifth cross-Strait talks.

At the talks, the two sides are expected to reach an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and an agreement on intellectual property protection.

The ARATS executive Vice President Zheng Lizhong and SEF Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian attended the consultation.

The consultation aims to fix the date and place for the fifth talks as well as the last details of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and a pact on intellectual property protection, said Zheng Lizhong, who headed the mainland delegation at the meeting.

"The discussions of the two agreements have reached the critical and final stage," Zheng said.

The ECFA will be a landmark for cross-Strait relations, signaling a new stage in the ARATS-SEF talks, he said.

ECFA discussions have progressed well, with both sides respecting each other, he said.