China called Thursday for international consensus and a legally-binding agreement on preventing an arms race in outer space.

China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, Hu Xiaodi, told delegates to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva: "In our view, the priority concern is to further consolidate an international consensus on prevention of weaponization and an arms race in outer space in the form of a legal commitment or a legal instrument."

Hu introduced two informal papers -- initiated jointly by China and Russia -- outlining the two countries' concerns over the lack of definition and verification of arms in outer space and concluding that verification will be highly difficult in terms of cost and technology.

Hu said a verification protocol may be needed in the future.

The papers also conclude that existing treaties have failed to effectively prevent the testing, deployment and use of weapons, other than those of mass destruction, in outer space.

"None of these instruments covers the threat or use of force from the Earth against objects in outer space," Hu said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2004)