Italy is prone to EU's lifting of arms sales embargo against China, said visiting Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Beijing on Monday.

 

Prodi made the remarks at a meeting with the press after holding official talks with Premier Wen Jiabao.

 

This year marks the China-Italy year that involves a wide range of activities on trade, culture and science. The Italian prime minister is accompanied with a huge business delegation of about 700 entrepreneurs in finance, industry and trade.

 

The Italian prime minister started his six-day official visit to China on September 13 that also took to the port city of Tianjin, the eastern city of Nanjing as well as Shanghai and Guangzhou.

 

The EU enacted its arms embargo on China after the events of 1989. China considers the embargo a barrier to the smooth development of normal relations between China and the EU, both of whom have vowed to deepen a strategic partnership.

 

Premier Wen called on the European side to make correct political resolution independently for lifting arms ban against China after the ninth China-EU Summit held in Finland on September 9 this year.

 

Wen said lifting arms embargo against China "could wipe out barriers amidst the growth of Sino-European ties" and "comply with Europe's own interests."

 

Prodi also touched upon the issue of China's full market economy status. He said the issue should be resolved at "an earlier date" and not be delayed any further.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2006)