China yesterday called upon the European Union to lift its ban on arms sales to China in a diplomatic strategy document.

　　The document, titled "China's EU Policy Paper," says the EU should lift its ban on arms sales to China at an early date so as to "remove barriers to greater bilateral cooperation on defense and technologies."

　　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 to military officers' training and defense studies, says the paper.

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

　　According to the paper, China's EU policy objectives are:

　　￥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.

　　￥To deepen China-EU economic cooperation and trade under the principles of mutual benefit, reciprocity and consultation on an equal basis, and promote common development.

　　￥To expand China-EU cultural and people-to-people exhanges under the principle of mutual emulation, common prosperity and complementarity, and promote cultural harmony and progress between the East and the West.

　　China and the European Economic Community established diplomatic relations in 1975 and they launched their annual summit mechanism in 1998. In 2001, the two sides established a full partnership.

　　Despite their twists and turns, China-EU relations as a whole have been growing stronger and more mature and are now on the track to see comprehensive and sound development, the paper says, noting that "China-EU relations now are better than at any time in history."

　　"There is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and the EU and neither side poses a threat to the other," the paper states, adding that "the common ground between China and the EU far outweighs their disagreements."

　　It says China and the EU are highly complementary economically thanks to their respective advantages and both China and the EU member states have a long history and splendid culture each and stand for more cultural exchanges and mutual emulation.

　　The document says China appreciates the EU and its members' commitment to the one-China principle and hopes that the EU will continue to respect China's major concerns over the Taiwan question, guard against Taiwan authorities' attempt to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues.

　　In this first-ever strategic paper on its policy toward the EU, China urges the EU to:

　　￥Prohibit any visit by any Taiwan political figure to the EU or its member countries under whatever name or pretext.

　　￥Not to engage in any contact or exchange of an official or governmental nature with Taiwan authorities.

　　￥Not to support Taiwan's accession to or participation in any international organization whose membership requires statehood.Taiwan's entrysintosthe WTO in the name of "separate customs territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Jinmen, Mazu" (or Chinese Taipei for short) does not mean any change in Taiwan's status as part of China, the paper states.

　　￥Not to sell to Taiwan any weapon, equipment, goods, materials or technology that can be used for military purposes.