STATEMENT BY ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

We welcome the People's Republic of China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's statement of November 21 regarding China's clear policy commitment not to assist, in any way, other countries to develop ballistic missiles that can be used to deliver nuclear weapons and to further improve and reinforce its export control system, including by publishing at an early date a comprehensive export control list of missile-related items, including dual use items.

This development can strengthen cooperation between the U.S. and China to achieve our common objective of preventing the spread of ballistic missiles that threaten regional and international security.

In consideration of China's commitment to strengthen its missile-related export control system, we have decided to waive economic sanctions required by U.S. law for past assistance by Chinese entities to missile programs in Pakistan and Iran.

Given the relationship between missile nonproliferation and peaceful space cooperation, the U.S. will now resume processing of licenses necessary for commercial space cooperation between U.S. and Chinese companies, such as launching U.S. satellites in China. In addition, the U.S. and China will resume discussions as soon as possible on extending the 1995 U.S.-China Agreement Regarding International Trade in Commercial Launch Services.

The U.S. stands ready to continue to cooperate and hold consultations with China and other countries on the issue of nonproliferation with a view to strengthening their respective export control systems for missiles-related equipment and technology.