BEIJING, June 17 (China Daily/Xinhua)-- China yesterday criticized US and Japanese opposition to the lifting of the European Union (EU)'s arms embargo as "unreasonable and unnecessary," saying it hoped the ban would soon be removed.

    "We believe that on the question of lifting the arms embargo, the Chinese side, and especially the EU side, have indeed been (recipients) of unreasonable and unnecessary disturbances," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

    On the question of the dispute between the US and Israel over the Middle East state's sale of arms to China, Liu stressed that China attaches importance to ties with Israel. Both sides should overcome outside disturbance when developing normal bilateral ties, he said.

    Liu hinted that Washington should not make wanton remarks or interfere with the development of normal relations between China and other countries.

    "The arrangement between the EU and China to lift the embargo is not directed against any third country, or aimed at undermining the interests of any third party. Therefore, to stand in the way is totally unnecessary and unreasonable," Liu said.

    Fance and Germany have been leading calls to end the ban, but the EU has scrapped its end-of-June target date for ending the embargo, and did not set any new deadline at a meeting of the 25-nation bloc's foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.

    Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn admitted on Wednesday that the EU is under pressure from the US and Japan not to lift the embargo.

    But he said he believed the EU and China could find a solution to the issue.

    "We hope the EU will make good their promise and lift the embargo as soon as possible," Liu said. "This will remove a major barrier and be beneficial to the furtherance of relations."

    Two months ago, Washington imposed a series of sanctions on Israel's defence industry following a weapons deal in which Israel was reported to have agreed to upgrade a consignment of drones it had sold to China.

    Nearly 18 months ago, China-Israel relations deteriorated after Israel had backtracked on a deal to sell the Phalcon advanced airborne radar system to China.

    A deal for a sophisticated surveillance system was aborted in 2001 because of pressure from the US, which was concerned the aircraft could be used against Taiwan.

   Rumsfeld's visit welcomed

    China welcomes US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to visit China, Liu made this comment in reply to a question on whether Rumsfeld will visit China this Autumn. 

    Liu said China attaches great importance to conducting exchanges in military field with the United States and deepening mutual understanding and mutual trust.

    "China welcomes officials from the US Department of Defense, including Rumsfeld himself, to visit China, and expects exchanges between the two sides can facilitate bilateral cooperation in military field, together with all other fields," Liu said.

    FM to attend int'l conference on Iraq

   Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will attend the international conference on Iraq held in Brussels on June 22, Liu announced.

    Liu said Li was invited by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister of Luxemburg, the rotating EU presidential country, Jean Asselborn.

    Over 80 countries and international organizations have been invited to attend the conference, which is co-hosted by the European Union and the United States, according to earlier reports.

    SCO to promote exchanges with non-member countries

    The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is willing to make exchanges with non-member countries and other international organizations, said Liu.

    Such exchanges will be beneficial to increasing mutual understanding and promoting cooperation, according to Liu.

    The issue concerning anti-terrorism will be a major topic during the upcoming SCO summit in early July in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. Liu said this issue, as a major task of the SCO, is discussed frequently by the organization at various levels, including state leaders, foreign ministers and senior officials of the SCO.

    The SCO is also faced with another important task of enhancing economic cooperation, in a bid to promote regional development, Liu said.

    "Combating 'three evil forces', namely, terrorism, extremism and separatism as well as encouraging economic and trade cooperation are two important elements driving the development of the SCO," said the spokesman.

    The SCO, set up in June 2001 to promote regional cooperation and fight terrorism, extremism and separatism, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Enditem