TAIPEI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Negotiators of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) began a preparatory consultation for their fifth round of talks here at 9:00 a.m. Thursday.

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