Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged the EU to lift an arms embargo, in place since the 1989 Tiananmen Square killings.
"The solution has been elusive over the past 10 years. I deeply regret this" said Wen, speaking in Brussels after meeting senior EU officials.
Ahead of the talks, EU sources said that they will not be lifting the embargo and both sides have "agreed to disagree" on this issue.
China and the EU however did agree on a deal to strengthen cooperation, aimed at "restoring market confidence and fostering financial stability".
"The EU reaffirmed its support for China's peaceful development and its respect for China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and expressed its confidence in China's efforts to maintain sustainable, steady and rapid economic growth," said a joint statement released on Thursday.
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