Provided is an electrically conductive paste adapted to be sintered at the same time when a ceramic body is being sintered, wherein said paste has a contraction starting temperature that is higher than the contraction ending temperature of said ceramic body during the sintering treatment. Also provided is an electrically conductive paste comprising an electrically conductive component and an organic vehicle component, wherein said electrically conductive component comprises an electrically conductive powder mainly comprising silver, the particles of said electrically conductive powder being coated with a metal oxide having a melting point higher than that of silver.