China has said it regrets North Korea's satellite launch amid the "universal" concern of the international community.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says China hopes all sides concerned will keep calm on the issue. Hong says North Korea is entitled to the peaceful use of outer space, but that right is currently restrained by relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Hong says China holds the Security Council's response should be "prudent and moderate" and conducive to maintaining overall peace and stability of the peninsula, instead of escalating tensions there. China has responded to a report predicting the country will surpass the US to become the world's largest economy before 2030. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says China will unswervingly pursue a way of peaceful development. Hong says China is still the world's biggest developing country and has a long way to go in realizing socialist modernization.

中方对朝方在国际社会普遍表明关切的情况下实施发射表示遗憾。
外交部发言人洪磊说，中方希望有关各方冷静对待此事。 洪磊表示，朝鲜有和平利用外空的权利， 但这一权利目前受到安理会有关决议等的限制。 洪磊说，中方认为，安理会有关反应需慎重、适度， 应有利于维护半岛和平稳定大局， 避免局势轮番升级。 有报告预测，中国将在2030年以前超过美国成为世界最大的经济体，中方就此事做出回应。 外交部发言人洪磊说，中国将始终不渝地走和平发展道路。 洪磊表示，中国仍是世界上最大的发展中国家，实现社会主义现代化还有很长的路要走。