Visiting German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has received a warm welcome from Premier Wen Jiabao, who referred to his visit as "another family meeting" at the start of talks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

During their talks, Premier Wen expressed hope of the cancellation of the EU arms embargo on China, saying it is not because China wants to buy weapons from the EU, but to oppose discrimination.

"The arms embargo is the product of Cold War times. If the policy continues to be implemented, it is neither in favor of the current situation nor in line with the full range cooperative partnership established between China and EU."

Schroeder says he supports China on the issue though there are different views in Germany and in the German parliament.

"My position has not changed and I still propose lifting the arms embargo. I hope that the China-EU Summit in The Hague will send out an important signal on this issue."

(CRI.com December 7, 2004)