On November 30, 2015, the third ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Space Security co-hosted by China, Laos, Russia and the US was inaugurated in Beijing. Nearly 100 representatives from over 20 countries including Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan as well as the ASEAN and EU members, UN agencies and regional organizations, as well as well-known think-tanks from home and abroad were present. Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech, comprehensively expounding China's stance and propositions on space security.

Li Baodong pointed out in his speech that the rapid development of space application and space technologies has greatly promoted all countries' economic development and social progress and improved people's livelihood. All countries should double cherish and properly utilize outer space to make it a new and peaceful domain where the international community conducts mutually beneficial cooperation and seeks common development instead of an arena of war full of conflicts and struggle. He raised 3 important propositions on the concept of space security: first is to establish a comprehensive concept on space security, understand in an all-round way the two threats of environmental degradation and obviously intensified weaponization of space. Both threats should gain equal attention and be addressed at the same time; second is to set up a balanced concept on space security, negotiate to reach consensus at an early date on international legal instruments preventing weaponization of and arms race in outer space and provide institutional guarantee for space security. Establishing trust-building measures in a proper, feasible and voluntary way could serve as a beneficial supplement for arms control process in outer space; third is to establish a shared concept on space security, forge a sense of community of common destiny, abandon the idea of seeking absolute security in outer space and ensure that all countries could jointly create a peaceful and secure environment in outer space and share the dividends of peacefully utilizing outer space.

In the end, Li Baodong stressed that President Xi Jinping advocated a fair and just security pattern co-constructed and shared by all at the UN General Assembly, which not only injected new impetus into the peace and development cause of the globe but also offered an important thought for jointly safeguarding space security. China always stands for peacefully utilizing outer space, shoulders responsibilities as a space state in a practical way, opposes weaponization of and arms race in outer space and persistently promotes the international community to reach an arms control agreement on preventing space weaponization through negotiations. China expects to join efforts with the members of the ARF in the future to consistently and firmly advance the multilateral process in space security by upholding the concept of peace, security and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The workshop is the first international meeting on space security held by China under the ARF framework and an important effort of China to take an active part in global governance on space security. At the 2-day meeting, the representatives present will have in-depth discussions on such issues as national space policies, legal means on arms control, transparency and trust building as well as technologies and measures on space security.