China demands that the European Union "observe its political commitment" and lift its arms embargo against China as soon as possible, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao at Tuesday's press conference in Beijing.

"We have requested that the EU truly put into practice the political promises it has made, and remove the political barrier to the development of bilateral relations," Liu said.

He reiterated that Beijing was not interested in buying weapons from Europe, but was only seeking respect as a "strategic partner" of the EU. "We are not aiming at importing arms from the EU. As strategic cooperative partners we hope, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, to further our relations. We hope the EU will honor its political commitments and remove the arms embargo," he said.

The EU scrapped its end-of-June target date for lifting the embargo and did not set a new deadline at a meeting of the 25-nation bloc's foreign ministers on Monday in Luxembourg.

"There's a lot of work to be done still," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said. "There's no consensus" on removing the restrictions, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer added. 

When asked to comment on the Dalai Lama's recent visit to Sweden, Liu said China always opposes the Dalai Lama's political activities under any name and in any country.

"We hope the relevant country can adhere to the promise of upholding the one-China policy and opposing 'Tibetan independence' so as not to endanger bilateral relations," said Liu.

"The Dalai Lama is a politician in exile disguised as a religious figure, and engages in separatist activities against China, and the Chinese government has expressed its concerns over the issue to the Swedish government," Liu said.

However, he noted that the dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama is always open so long as the latter "truly gives up advocating 'Tibetan independence'" and declares in public that he recognizes Tibet and Taiwan as inalienable parts of China.

"Then we shall contact him for negotiations," he added.

Liu said that China and the United States reached an understanding in Beijing yesterday on mutually granting annual multiple entry visas to students.

According to the understanding, Chinese nationals applying for visas to study in the US, including the F, M and J visa categories, will be granted multiple entry visas for a 12-month period.

But such a visa arrangement will be subject to certain limitations under the US law and applications will be processed on a case-by-case basis.

The rule also applies to American nationals who want to study in China, said Liu.

"Such an understanding will effectively improve educational cooperation and personnel exchange between China and the US," he said.

Commenting on a senior Japanese official's remarks about "comfort women," Liu said that China strongly condemns his denying their very existence.

Japanese Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Nariaki Nakayama said at a meeting in Shizuoka Saturday that the term "comfort women" does not exist, so it was good that the "incorrect" description was removed from school textbooks.

Liu said it is known to all that the "comfort women" system was a serious crime committed by the Japanese militarists during World War II, and the overt denial of this ugly piece of history by a Japanese cabinet member in charge of education seriously hurts the feelings of victims and their countrymen.

The term "comfort women" was used to describe women forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in Japan's war of aggression against its Asian neighbors before and during World War II.

Nakayama's remarks have been strongly criticized by South Korea, China and other Asian countries.

Liu announced that South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan will visit from June 21 to 23 at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao. Lee will meet with President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo.

"They are expected to have an in-depth discussion on the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

Liu said China and South Korea have maintained sound relations through frequent exchanges of high-level visits and deepening political trust. The two countries also enjoy close economic cooperation. The trade volume between the two countries exceeded US$90 billion last year and personnel exchanges hit 3.5 million, he added.

"The growth of bilateral relations have brought substantial benefits to the people of both nations, and we feel happy for it," he said.

Liu said China values its relationship with South Korea and will continue to push forward the comprehensive, cooperative partnership and close cooperation to safeguard regional peace and stability.

Despite international diplomatic efforts aimed at getting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea back to the negotiating table, no dates or deadlines for resuming the six-party talks on the nuclear issue have been set, said Liu.

According to the spokesperson, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will visit Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Syria and Lebanon from June 17 to 26, during which he will discuss bilateral relations and international and regional issues with leaders of the five nations.

China is expected to sign economic and trade cooperation agreements with the five Middle East countries, Liu added.

China and the five nations have maintained sound relations, and cooperation in all fields has witnessed new progress, he said, expressing the belief that Li's visit will further promote those relationships.

(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2005)