The first debate on a proposed Taiwan-China economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) will be televised April 5 by a local cable TV station. Huang Chih-peng, director-general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade, said that to his knowledge, he will team up with Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao against Chuang Suo-hang and Julian Kuo, both former lawmakers of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in the debate to be broadcast by CtiTV. 'The debate slated for next Monday is a prelude to the anticipated debate on the ECFA between President Ma Ying-jeou and DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen,' Huang said. Huang was Taiwan's chief negotiator in the second round of cross-Taiwan Strait negotiations on the ECFA, which wrapped up Thursday. Although no major breakthrough was made on the pact's 'early harvest' lists, which will include the items that will immediately benefit from tariff reductions or exemptions, the two sides forged common ground on the text of the planned ECFA, as well as on regulations covering the labeling of product origin. Delegates from the two sides promised that they will continue negotiations in the next round of talks in China in May or June and hoped that the ECFA could be clinched by that time. The DPP is strongly opposed to the pact, fearing that an influx of cheap Chinese goods could hurt local companies and that it would undermine Taiwan's sovereignty. The president said Friday that Taiwan and China will decide which items will be listed in their 'early harvest program' in the third round of ECFA talks. The major purpose of the trade deal with China is to set up an institutionalized mechanism for cross-strait trade and to help Taiwan push for free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries and a role in East Asia's economic integration, Ma said. 'As China is Taiwan's largest trade partner, it is right to start by signing a trade pact with China, ' the president reiterated while meeting at the Presidential Office with the delegation that will represent Taiwan at the Boao Forum. Commenting on the possible impact of the ECFA on Taiwan's industries, Ma said Taiwan would not engage in wishful thinking, and he realized that if cheap Chinese goods entered Taiwan's market, they would have an adverse impact on domestic demand-oriented sectors. 'The Chinese side promised to do its best to avoid harming Taiwan's vulnerable businesses when putting forth its early harvest list, ' he said. Meanwhile, Ma will attend a seminar in Yunlin County Saturday to explain ECFA- related issues to local farmers. Yunlin is an agricultural-based county in central-south Taiwan where the DPP enjoys widespread support. A second ECFA forum led by the president will be held in Kaohsiung April 10. 