New York, 21 October 2009 　　

Mr. Chairman,

Please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to extend our thanks and congratulations to the Bureau of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) for the positive outcome of the 52nd Session of COPUOS. This year marks the 10th anniversary of UNISPACE III. We highly value the positive outcomes of UNISPACE III, and are pleased to note that its recommendations have been implemented to varying degrees with significant achievements that benefit mankind as a whole.

Mr. Chairman,

China has all along adhered to peaceful uses of Outer Space. We call for joint efforts by the international community to build a “harmonious outer space order” which is conducive to peace, development, cooperation and the rule of law. China is of the view that any act that contravenes the principle of peaceful uses of outer space, such as weaponization of and arms race in outer space, runs counter to the common interest of mankind.

Last year, China and the Russian Federation jointly tabled at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva a draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects, which was welcomed by many States. We look forward to the initiation of formal negotiations on the draft at an early date.

Mr. Chairman,

Over the past year, China has scored encouraging achievements in the exploration and peaceful uses of Outer Space, and strengthened its capacities in five major areas, namely, entry into space, satellite development and applications, space infrastructure and ground support, manned space flights and deep space exploration. In March this year, the successful impact on the Moon by the lunar probe “Chang-E 1” put a perfect period to our lunar exploration program. Not long ago, the construction of China’s first low-latitude space launch site -- Hainan Spaceport -- was started. Once completed, China’s overall space-launching capabilities will be greatly enhanced.

Moreover, space technology has been widely used in agriculture, forestry, national land use and survey, education, irrigation and water conservancy, rural and urban development, environment protection and monitoring, mapping, traffic, meteorology, oceans, and geo-scientific research, bringing about profound changes in people’s life in China.

While developing its own space capabilities, China is actively engaged in international exchange and cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space in an effort to promote common development. China has all along supported and helped the establishment of a UN-SPIDER office in Beijing, and has basically reached agreement with UNOOSA on a host country agreement. As host to the Asia- Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), China actively supports its work in all aspects and signed the host country agreement with APSCO in July this year. China supports its application for observer status with COPUOS in the hope that it will further strengthen cooperation with COPUOS.

We support broadening international cooperation in outer space area. Last May, China signed an agreement with Brazil to provide Africa region with CBERS-02B (China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) data through ground stations in South Africa, Egypt and Spain, thereby supporting the African countries in their efforts to explore and use outer space peacefully.

Mr. Chairman,

As common wealth of mankind, outer space should be developed in the interest of promoting progress of human civilization and human society; the benefits thereby generated should be shared among all the people of the world, and in particular, the need of the developing nations should be taken into account. With an open mind and a sense of responsibility, China is ready to conduct cooperation in space technology with more countries, including developing countries, to contribute to the efforts of making outer space benefit mankind as a whole.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.