Home>>China
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 12, 2004

China urges EU to lift arms embargo at early date: FM

China hopes the European Union (EU) will lift its arms embargo against China at an early date, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


China hopes the European Union (EU) will lift its arms embargo against China at an early date, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday.

"China hopes the EU will proceed from the overall development of China-EU relations" when making a decision on lifting the arms embargo, Zhang told a press conference.

EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana said on Feb.11 that the discussions on lifting the arms embargo against China within the EU are "on the right track," but he could not tell the "exact date" for the lifting at present.

China appreciates Solana's remarks, Zhang said, adding that China has stated time and again its stance on the issue.

The arms embargo "is an obsolete regulation and byproduct of the Cold War," the spokeswoman said.

China hopes all EU member states handle seriously the issue and lift the embargo at an early date, she said.

On Jan. 26, the EU foreign ministers' meeting discussed the issue of lifting the arms ban on China, and the ministers demanded the working groups under the EU Council examine the issue and then report to the ministers.

No 'exact date' for lifting arms embargo on China: Solana
EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana said Wednesday in Brussels that the discussions on lifting arms embargo against China within the European Union (EU) are "on right track," but he could not tell the "exact date" for the lifting at present.

"I don't think lifting arms embargo is a big problem (for the EU and China)" said Solana, adding that the issue is only "a question "that is being discussed by the two sides.

After a meeting with Guan Chengyuan, head of the Chinese Mission to the European Communities, Solana told some Chinese media that the EU-China partnership has profound and broad content.

He noted that a mechanism of regular meetings of leaders between the EU and China has been set up, adding that apart from the leaders' meeting for this year, there will be frequent exchanges of visits between the senior officials from both sides.

Solana also expressed willingness to foster up not only good relations between the EU and the Chinese government, but good personal relations between the EU leaders and the Chinese leaders as well.

On Jan. 26, the EU foreign ministers' meeting discussed the issue of lifting arms ban on China, and the ministers demanded the working groups under the EU Council examine the issue and then report to the ministers.

By People's Daily Online


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






US insists on military sanction against China

US pressing EU to uphold arms embargo against China

China calls for lifting of arms embargo





 


Why Lai Changxing's appeal to Canadian court rejected? ( 6 Messages)

Japan decides to further cut back economic aid to China ( 30 Messages)

US media urge gov't not to surrender China market to EU ( 2 Messages)

Bird flu detected in US as virus wanes in Asia ( 2 Messages)

Handling Sino-Japan ties in an overall perspective ( 4 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved