Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing at a Tuesday press conference that China firmly opposes the European Union's linking of lifting the arms ban on China with the human right issue.

Liu made the remark in response to the EU representative's remark at the Asia Europe Meeting 7th Foreign Ministers' Meeting that it will be difficult to lift the arms ban soon unless there is obvious progress in the country's human right situation.

"We oppose the EU's linking of ban-lifting with the human right issue," said Liu, adding he noticed that many EU members also believe the linking is groundless.

Liu said China has made great effort to improve the human rights of its people in past years and "deeply" understands there are still problems.

"China will continue to improve the human right situation, but that should by no means be relevant to the lifting of the arms embargo," Liu said.

The spokesman urged the EU to lift the arms ban as soon as possible, saying doing this will improve the EU-China relationship.

The EU decided to lift the ban before June of this year at a EU summit last December.