Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said on Tuesday that China has requested the European Union (EU) remove an "outdated and discriminatory" arms embargo policy against it.

Qin made the remarks when asked to comment on whether any progress would be made in resolving the arms embargo issue between the EU and China during the Finnish presidency of the EU.

Qin said China had taken a very firm and clear stance on the issue and opposed the EU's arms embargo policy.

China wants the discriminatory policy to be removed not because it seeks to buy weapons from the EU, but because a discriminatory policy of this kind has no place in an all-round Sino-European strategic partnership based on equality and mutual respect, Qin noted.

China hopes the EU will show true political courage and determination and remove the arms embargo policy as soon as possible in order to contribute to the sound development of China-EU relations.

Source: Xinhua