EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said that the European Union (EU) aims to completely normalize relations with China, and the lifting of the EU's 16- year-old ban on arms sales to China is not the only topic in bilateral ties.

In an interview with the German economic daily Handelsblatt published Friday, Solana said that China is an important country and is playing an increasingly important role in the world.

Solana expressed his hope that the EU will strengthen ties with China.

The lifting of the ban is a topic in the bilateral ties, but not the most significant one, he added.

As to the date of the lifting, he said "I don't want to commit myself on whether the EU decision will occur in June or later," adding that the EU will do so when the time is ripe.

Solana also criticized US threats of sanctions against the EU, saying, "I don't like these noises around sanctions."