Brussels, 19/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following a series of meetings with Chinese officials in Beijing, where she had taken part in the opening of negotiations on the future partnership and cooperation framework agreement (CPA) (see EUROPE 9347), External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, on Thursday, welcomed the relative thawing in relations between China and Japan after a period of tension, particularly in 2005. Speaking to press, Ms Ferrero-Waldner said that the visit of Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, to China in October 2006 had been “highly important” in improving Sino-Japanese relations. “The EU always hopes for stable and peaceful relations between the two neighbouring countries and is very happy to see the improvement in ties,” she went on. Relations between Beijing and Tokyo deteriorated when Mr Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, was in office, particularly with his visits to the Yasukuni sanctuary.
On Wednesday, Ms Ferrero-Waldner and Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing discussed the recurrent issue of the embargo on arms sales to China, in place since 1989. In response to Mr Li's calls for the ban to be lifted, Ms Ferrero-Waldner stressed that Beijing had to make progress on human rights, in particular by signing the UN convention on civil and political rights and by releasing political prisoners arrested after the 1989 demonstrations. (eh)