Beijing, Oct 13: China today appealed to the European Union to lift its ban on arms sales, remove "irrational" technical barriers and ease restrictions on high-tech exports citing the booming bilateral trade and investment scenario. Stating this in its first-ever strategic policy paper on ties with the EU, the Chinese government said the 15-member EU should lift its ban on arms sales to China at an early date so as to "remove barriers to greater bilateral cooperation on defence industry and technologies".

The EU's ban on arms sales to Beijing is linked to the Chinese government's crackdown on pro-democracy activists here at Tiananmen Square in 1989. China and the EU will maintain high-level military-to-military exchanges, develop and improve, step by step, a strategic security consultation mechanism, exchange more missions of military experts, and expand exchanges in respect of military officers' training and defence studies, says The Paper titled 'China's EU policy paper'.

The document says to enhance China-EU relations is an important component of Beijing's foreign policy and the country is committed to a long-term, stable and full partnership with the union.

"To promote a sound and steady development of China-EU political relations under the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust and seeking common ground while reserving differences, and contribute to world peace and stability," it says elaborating on the Beijing's foreign policy. Bureau Report