BEIJING - A cross-Straits peace forum, the first of its kind, will be held later this year, said a mainland spokesman on Friday.

However, Yang Yi, spokesman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, did not reveal the exact date of the forum as he made the announcement at a press conference here.

In the next few months, there will also be the ninth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum and the second Zijinshan summit for entrepreneurs across the Strait, Yang said.

These events will play a positive role in promoting exchanges and peaceful relations across the Straits, he added.

While current cross-Straits forums mainly focus on economic and social issues, the cross-Straits peace forum is expected to inspire talks about political and military issues.