BEIJING - China urged the European Union on Tuesday to have the "political courage" to lift its embargo on selling arms to Beijing as a way to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two sides.

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The issue has been an ongoing source of strain between China and the EU, which otherwise enjoy vigorous diplomatic and trade relations.

"China is right now a strategic partner of the EU, yet the EU continues to adopt a policy that is outdated," Qin Gang, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a regular briefing. "It is a prejudice against China."

"It is our hope that the EU can have political courage and make a decision to remove the obsolete policy so as to facilitate the healthy development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU," he said.

At a meeting of EU foreign ministers last week, the body signaled the ban will not be lifted soon because there is no consensus on the issue.

"Rather, China wants to have a strategic relationship with the EU based on equality and mutual benefit," Qin said.