Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang said China is "extremely concerned" about the issue and has been holding talks with various EU countries about lifting the embargo.

"We believe the ban is a product of the Cold War. It is not consistent with the existing strategic partnerships between China and Europe," he told reporters at a briefing. "The embargo should be scrapped."

Shen said Premier Wen Jiabao will raise the issue with European leaders during the October 8-9 Asia-Europe (ASEM) meeting in Hanoi.

"The lifting of the ban will greatly promote relations between China and the EU, especially in political development," Shen said.

Several EU members, including France and Germany, favor dropping the sanctions imposed after the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

But the United States and Taiwan remain adamant that the embargo should remain, arguing that its lifting would contribute to regional instability and condone China's continued poor human rights record.

Taiwan, which split with mainland China amid civil war in 1949, said earlier this month that any lifting of the ban "would help China expand and modernize its military buildup to prepare for a war in the Taiwan Strait".

Shen also expressed hopes for more economic and trade cooperation with France before French President Jacques Chirac's visit next month.

"His visit is an important visit, and we hope his visit will greatly promote the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries," he said.

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