Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhang Qiyue told a regular press conference in Beijing on December 9 that it is time for the European Union to lift its arms embargo on China, as China's progress on human rights has been widely recognized by European Union countries.

Zhang said that eighteen rounds of talks have been held so far between China and the European Union on their disparities relating to human right issues.

"China is moving forward rapidly on improving its human rights. It's ridiculous to take China's human rights practices as an excuse for the prolonged EU weapon embargo on China," she said.

Zhang said the world's disparity on human right issues stems from differences in history, culture, social systems and economic development. China would like to solve all human rights disparities through dialogue.

Calling EU arms embargo on China "a product of cold war" and unsuitable to the development of China-EU relations, Zhang said it is "high time to get this issue solved."