French PM in China

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit "to sell Airbus in China" and assure China that Paris is committed to ending the EU arms embargo, Agence France-Presse reported, quoting the PM. Raffarin is expected to hold talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and sign a series of bilateral accords, AFP reported. The lifting of the arms embargo is in doubt over Beijing's relations with Taiwan and Japan, although EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said this week the EU remains committed to its removal.