EU foreign ministers vow to boost partnership with China

The European Union vowed on Friday to boost its partnership with China in an all-around manner, saying the issue of lifting an arms embargo on China does not overshadow the bilateral dialogue.

China is the EU's "huge and important partner," said European Commissioner on External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner after a meeting of EU foreign ministers here. She noted that the issue of lifting the arms embargo on China does not "overshadow" the EU- China dialogue in as many as 20 fields.

"The issue is merely one of the 20 dialogues," she said, adding that agreements have been reached in a number of fields.

"The EU has become the biggest trading partner of China and China is the second largest trading partner of the EU," she said.

"China emerges as a vital political player and plays a constructive role in the world arena," she said, citing China's efforts to push forward the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

The EU will "continue to work" on lifting the arms embargo on China, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told a press conference after the meeting, saying, "Good progress has been made. "

"The Luxembourg presidency will manage to find a solution," said the minister, whose country is now holding the rotating EU presidency.

"Over the past 20 years, China's economy has seen unprecedented expansion, and China has been increasingly playing a central role in the world," he said, noting that the ministers almost spent the whole afternoon discussing EU relations with China in such aspects as economic cooperation, arms embargo lifting, relations across the Taiwan Strait and China-Japan ties.

"This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the EU-China diplomatic relations, and we will enhance our engagement, enhance the partnership," said Asselborn.

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told a press conference that lifting the embargo does not necessarily lead to the increase of EU arms exports to China, nor does it damage the so-called " strategic balance."

The EU shall conduct "responsible dialogue" with China, which is beneficial to safeguarding Europe's own interests, he said.

According to EU rules, all its 25 member states shall reach consensus on the issue before the ban is lifted.

Since one major obstacle to the lifting is from the United States, Europe's traditional ally, the EU sent a delegation to Washington last month to explain why the EU intends to lift the embargo. But Washington turned a deaf ear to the lobbying.

"We will continue to launch strategic dialogue with the US on the stability and security in the region," said European Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner.

On the Taiwan question, Asselborn said the EU will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

At Friday's meeting, which was informal, no decision was taken.