France will continue to persuade other European Union members to push for the lifting of arms ban on China, said visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in Beijing Thursday.

Raffarin made the remarks at a joint press conference with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. He said he believed the EU council does not have reason to alter its earlier decision to lift the arms ban.
 
The EU began the embargo in 1989. Leaders of EU member countries agreed during a summit held in Brussels at the end of 2004 to finish preparations for lifting the ban before June 2005.

Wen expressed thanks to Raffarin's support on the issue. Describing the ban as "relic of the cold war" and "political discrimination" which China firmly opposes, Wen said it is not conforming to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

"Sixteen years have past. My black hairs have turned white," said the Premier.

Wen said, China holds for dialogue on the human rights issue, instead of pegging it to the lifting of the arms ban.

Actually, China has carried out 19 dialogues with EU on the issue. "Those who blamed China most have already admitted that China has made structural progress on the issue, " Wen said.

China has joined 21 international conventions on human rights including the "International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights", according to the white paper on human rights published on April 13, namely China's Progress in Human Rights in 2004.

Wen said the Chinese government is studying on ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

At the invitation of Wen, Raffarin arrived in Beijing Thursday morning, starting a three-day official visit to China.

Wen held talks with the visiting prime minister. Afterwards, the two attended a signing ceremony of 20 mutual agreements on agriculture, aviation and energy cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2005)