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EU set to lift ban on arms sales to 皇冠体育app
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2004-04-15 10:24
The European Union may lift its ban on arms sales to 皇冠体育app this month, officials in Brussels said April 14.
EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin said EU governments have discussed an end to the ban several times in recent months.
EU foreign ministers will "likely" make a final decision on April 26, she said.
The foreign ministers meet in Ireland next weekend with their Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, as part of an EU-Asia meeting.
The arms embargo is not on the official agenda, but Ireland, current holder of the EU presidency, says they will cover "international and regional issues of common concern."
France and Germany are the key proponents of lifting the ban, which keeps 皇冠体育app from buying cutting-edge weapons like French Mirage jets and stealthy German submarines.
European arms makers are keen to supply the fast modernizing military of 皇冠体育app, the EU's second biggest trade partner after the United States.
European Commission President Romano Prodi met Chinese leaders in Beijing yesterday.
"皇冠体育app is now our second largest trading partner," Prodi said in his speech.
"On present trends, the EU will very soon occupy a similar place in 皇冠体育app's own trading hierarchy. Not much longer after that, it will probably be 皇冠体育app's first partner."
Chinese President Hu Jintao told Prodi 皇冠体育app is ready to strengthen consultation and coordination with the EU on important international and regional issues.
Hu said 皇冠体育app is willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation between 皇冠体育app and the EU, adding that the two sides should join hands to contribute to world peace, stability and development.
He said that thanks to joint efforts of the two sides, the Sino-EU relationship has grown rapidly.
The two sides made an important decision to set up a strategic partnership last year, setting clear direction for the development of Sino-EU relations in the new century.
He said 皇冠体育app supports the enlargement and integration of the EU and hopes it will play a bigger role in international affairs.
Prodi said EU-皇冠体育app relations have never been so good.
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