Germany on Monday reiterated its efforts within the European Union (EU) to promote the lifting of the arms sales ban on China.

Germany has noted the changes in China since 1989 when the arms ban was imposed by the 25-member bloc, deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg told reporters.

The German government believes that it is the time for the EU to discuss the lifting of the arms ban and seek "a new solution" to the issue, he added.

EU foreign ministers plan to review the issue at a meeting in September demanded by the Brussels EU summit last month, said the spokesman.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder urged the EU to remove the arms embargo when he visited China last December, making Germany the second major EU country advocating it along with France.