A Chinese arms-control official said Friday that double standards and utilitarianism must be discarded to prevent arms proliferation.

Cheng Jingye, director-general of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks at a two-day arms control workshop in Beijing that focused on disarmament in East and Southeast Asia.

To prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, an integrated approach must be adopted, to address both the symptoms and the root causes, Cheng said at the workshop that ended Friday.

Cheng said arms control concerns world peace and the interests of the people of all countries.

China is a country that meets its international arms control and non-proliferation obligations, he said.

"China has never been involved in any form of nuclear arms race and nor will it do so in the future," he added.

China is the only nuclear-armed state that has committed itself to a no-first-use of nuclear weapons policy, Cheng said.

China has also unconditionally committed itself to not using nuclear weapons to threaten non-nuclear-armed states, Cheng added.

"It is essential all countries strictly fulfill their international non-proliferation obligations and strengthen export controls," he said.

He added that the rights of countries to use nuclear power peacefully should be fully respected.

On peace and security in outer space, Cheng said the negotiation and conclusion of a new international legal instrument to prevent an arms race in outer space is the best way to ensure outer space's peace and security.