LUXEMBOURG, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, whose country holds the rotating European Union (EU) presidency, pledged here Thursday that Luxembourg will "do its best" to make the EU lift its arms embargo against China by the end of June.

    "Last December's European Council has mandated Luxembourg to make preparations for the lifting. Luxembourg will do its best to make it possible," said Asselborn after meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Thursday night.

    In December last year, the EU Council requested Luxembourg to "finalize" preparations for lifting the 15-year-old ban on arms sales to China. "We will exert all our energy, all our engagement," Asselborn said.

    Asselborn, a key player in the EU discussion about the lifting of arms embargo on China, said related discussions within the EU have seen "more progress." However, he said the lifting would notlead to an increase of arms sales to China.

    Since the EU's ally, the United States, is against the embargo lifting, the EU sent a delegation Monday to Washington to explain why it is determined to lift the embargo.

    Asselborn said the mission of the EU delegation is to explain the issue to the United States and Japan "face to face", making them aware of the EU position on the embargo lifting.

    Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice even asked the EU to "think twice" about lifting the embargo after China's National People's Congress enacted the Anti-Secession Law.

    Asselborn brushed aside the idea of linking the Anti-Secession Law with the lifting of the arms embargo. "Please do not mix the Anti-Secession Law with the issue," he said.

    The minister also pledged that the EU abides by the one-China policy as it always does.

    Luxembourg's EU presidency will last till the end of June. EU leaders will make a decision on whether to lift the arms embargo against China at the bloc's summit to be held in June. Enditem