China calls for end to EU arms embargo

20 September 2012

Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao has repeated calls for the European Union arms embargo against China to be lifted, saying that his country had "no major conflict of interest" with Europe.

The embargo was first put in place after China used military force against protesters in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in 1989, and the country has repeatedly called for it to be lifted in the years since.

Speaking at the 15th China-EU summit in Brussels, Wen said that he 'regretted' that the calls had not resulted in a change of policy to date.

"I have to be very frank in saying this," Wen said. "But the solution has been elusive over the past 10 years. I deeply regret this and I hope the EU side will take greater initiative to solve these issues."

In January 2011, EU foreign affairs chief Baroness Catherine Ashton suggested the EU "should discuss its [the embargo's] practical implication and design a way forward".

France and Spain were said to favour repealing the embargo and freeing up trade between Europe and China as a possible solution to the ongoing financial crisis, but the UK has repeatedly said conditions are "not yet right" for a repeal.

China is Europe's second-largest export market after the United States, but still has not got free market status to trade with Europe. Europe is said to be China's largest export market.