European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso told
visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday that the
European Union (EU) was working to lift the arms embargo against
China, even though the lifting was not "imminent."
"The EU has agreed to work towards lifting the arms embargo on
China, but further work is necessary," Barroso told a press
conference after he met with Abe, who paid his first visit to the
EU headquarters as prime minister.
Barroso made the statement despite that Abe made it clear that
Japan opposes the lifting of arms embargo against China by the
EU.
However, Barroso said the decision was made by the EU member
states and he saw no "imminent" lifting on the ban of arms sales to
China.
"The EU has said that such a measure when it happens would not
lead to a qualitative or quantitative increase in arms sales and
technical work is continuing," he added.
The EU has maintained its arms embargo against China for 17
years.
(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2007)
