Abe reaffirms Japan's opposition to EU arms sales to China
(HEILIGENDAMM) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo on Wednesday renewed his opposition to European Union moves to sell weapons to China during talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The two leaders held their first one-to-one meeting ahead of the Group of Eight summit here. Sarkozy became president on May 16.
"Japan opposes EU's move to lifting a ban on arms exports to China," Abe told Sarkozy, according to a Japanese government official.
Sarkozy made no direct reply to the opposition, only saying: "It is important to know about Japan's stance on the issue."
Japan and the United States have long criticized China for its opaque but growing military budget and strongly opposed an European Union proposal to scrap a ban on arms exports to China.
Sarkozy's predecessor, Jacques Chirac, had been a key backer of easing the EU arms ban.
Abe, meanwhile, invited Sarkozy to visit Japan before the Asian country hosts next year's G8 summit, the official said.
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