BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan maintained that the European Union's plan to lift its arms embargo on China won't infringe upon the interest of third parties, and that the lifting of the embargo is "irrelevant" to "the present situation of the Asia Pacific region."

    Kong told a regular press conference that the arms embargo, put in place in 1989, is a "sequel of the cold war," and the lifting of it is "conducive to a sound and smooth development of the China-EU relations based on equality and reciprocity."

    "The bilateral relations enjoy a smooth development at present, while the two sides are gradually solving historical problems between them," Kong said. He said he hopes that the United States will temporize to the trend instead of setting obstacles.

    Kong said the lifting of embargo is actually "the lifting of political discrimination on China, which won't lead to China to buy a large amount of weapons." China, he said, will "pursue peaceful development and a defense policy that is defensive in nature," and will be "no menace to any country."

    He said, "China is not the obstacle to the world peace and stability but an active strength to maintain it." Enditem