Mr. Chairman,

China aligns itself with the statement made by India on behalf of G77 and China.

We appreciate your dedication to the work of this session and thank Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of UNOOSA and the Secretariat for the preparations made for the session. China is willing to work with all parties to participate in the subcommittee in a deeper and more pragmatic manner, so as to better leverage the functions of the Committee on Outer Space Affairs and its Legal Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman,

Currently, the global space governance becomes an imperative and there is a huge deficit here. The integration of space technology with AI and other new technologies is accelerating, space exploration is going ever deeper, new types of space activities are emerging and commercial spaceflights are booming. While these breakthroughs expand the horizons of human activity, they also bring a series of real challenges. Space resource development and corresponding space safety issues are more prominent, technology gaps hinder equal participation, military forces are increasingly relying on outer space systems, and individual countries are weaponizing and militarizing outer space. Large-scale orbital manoeuvres of mega-constellations present new challenges relating to updating the space object registration systems, information sharing, and collision avoidance for spacecraft in orbit, which call for serious attention and urgent solutions.

Faced with global challenges, China continues with its efforts to contribute solutions to the world community. President Xi Jinping stated: "Outer space is a shared domain of humans, and space exploration is a common cause of humanity." China always upholds the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and is advocating and actively implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, and vigorously pursuing the peaceful use of outer space. China is willing to work closely with all countries to inject stability and positive energy into the global governance framework for outer space.

The Global Governance Initiative makes it clear that international rule of law should be upheld, and promoting the rule of law in outer space is the only way to improve global governance of outer space. China believes that the international community should uphold the spirit of genuine multilateralism, maintain the central role of UN COPUOS, safeguard the international order in outer space based on international law, fulfill treaty obligations in treaties like the Outer Space Treaty, Registration Convention, etc. in good faith, actively participate in the work of the Legal Subcommittee, promote the development of the rule of law in outer space, and foster good governance through sound laws.

Achieving sound laws and good governance in outer space depends on consultation, joint contribution and benefit sharing of all countries. Over the past year, China’s space program has made further solid progress in the peaceful use of space, and we have deepened bilateral space cooperation with many countries. China has signed cooperation documents for the International Lunar Research Station with 17 countries and international organizations, and welcomes interested countries, international organizations, and international partners to join related projects. As the host country of APSCO, China is continuing its support to the organization’s development and growth.

Conducting international exchanges on outer space law is vital for enhancing the rule of law in outer space. China appreciates UNOOSA’s efforts in this regard. China attaches great importance in strengthening international exchange in space law. At the 9th session of China Space Conference late this April, China will host a series of international seminars on space law and policy. We welcome experts, scholars, and government officials from all countries to actively participate and conduct in-depth exchanges on topical and difficult issues regarding rule of law in outer space.

China will, as always, be committed to advancing the rule of law in outer space and improving global governance of outer space and looks forward to engaging in pragmatic discussions with all countries on all items of this session.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.