Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, has pledged to encourage the trade bloc to lift its arms embargo against China by the end of June.
"Last December's European Council mandated that Luxembourg make preparations for the lifting. Luxembourg will do its best to make it possible," Asselborn said after meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Thursday night.
Last December, the EU Council directed Luxembourg to "finalize" preparations for ending the 15-year-old ban on arms sales to China.
"We will try, with all our energy and engagement, to make it possible," Asselborn said. But he cautioned there are still "issues to work out regarding the code of conduct" governing European arm sales.
France and Germany, which are leading calls to end the ban, say Europe will maintain tight controls on sales of high-tech weapons to China. They say the embargo is outdated and should be removed to enable the EU to engage more with China.
They also are hopeful that China will view the removal of the embargo as a goodwill gesture that will open its rapidly expanding markets to sales of European civilian goods, such as airliners and trains.
The EU is also trying to avoid offending its major ally, the United States.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked the Europeans to "think twice" about lifting the embargo after China's National People's Congress enacted an anti-secession law.
Asselborn brushed aside the idea of linking the law to the arms embargo.
"Please do not mix the anti-secession law with the issue," he said.
The EU sent a delegation to Washington on Monday to explain its position, he told the Chinese minister.
EU leaders are scheduled to make a decision on the embargo at their June summit.
Li also talked with EU officials about European concerns over growing Chinese textile exports following the expiration of a global quota system on January 1.
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the EU hoped to avoid imposing new restrictions, despite mounting calls from domestic textile producers.
"The European Union wants to avoid the use of safeguards on textile imports from China, and we are counting on the cooperation of China on this issue," she said.
China has imposed a 1.3 percent tax on textile exports in what it says is an effort to prevent a surge in sales, and is considering other measures, including minimum prices and limiting the number of new suppliers.
Li said China was looking for arrangements that satisfy both sides.
In his meeting with the Chinese minister, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso vowed to map out plans for the long-term development of bilateral ties, adding that the commission will organize events to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU.
Developing a comprehensive strategic partnership is in the interest of both sides, Li said.
Li assured the European Union that China is committed to getting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea back to multiparty negotiations aimed at dissuading Pyongyang from pursuing its nuclear arms ambitions.
"Our position is that the Korean peninsula should be free of nuclear weapons," Li said, adding that China will continue its constructive role in bringing North Korean back to the talks.