The EU does not lift the arms embargo

The Hague (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The European Union and China want to boost trade and find a way to lift the ban on arms sales. However, the EU wants Beijing to make significant improvements in its human rights record before revoking the ban.

For Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao this represents a 'positive signal'. In his opinion, the ban does not reflect EU-China relations and is "an outdated product of the Cold War" that does not take into account the current partnership.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, whose country holds the EU presidency, said the "EU would consider ending the ban imposed after the bloody 1989 crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests" but wanted greater guarantees that human rights will be respected.

Under the EU's code of conduct for arms sales, weapons can be sold only if they are not used for "internal repression, external aggression or where serious violations of human rights have occurred".

Mr Wen acknowledged differences on human rights and the arms ban but added that this "does not frighten us. It does not prevent us from having a bilateral relationship."

The US has asked the EU not to lift the ban and has threatened to halt the transfer of defence technology to Europe if it did.

Germany, France and recently Italy are the most eager EU members to see the arms ban go. The United Kingdom and the EU's Scandinavian members are opposed.

Although the ban issue remains unresolved, trade between EU members and the Asian giant are growing. Cooperation in science and technology as well as between universities is expected to expand.

Currently, China is the EU's second largest commercial partner. Two-way trade has passed the US$ 200 billion mark.

The two sides have also signed a declaration committing themselves to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

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