China has expressed concern after the United States retained control over the exports of satellites and related items to China, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Saturday.

Although the U.S. has loosened its restrictions on satellite exports, China remains restricted according to a newly-passed National Defense Authorization Act of the 2013 fiscal year, MOC's spokesman Shen Danyang said.

He noted the U.S. has not fulfilled its promise to benefit China in its reform of the export control system and boost exports of high-tech equipment to China.

The U.S. rolled out measures to hinder satellite cooperation for civil purposes between the two countries. China is deeply disappointed and dissatisfied with this action, Shen said.

China urged the U.S. to meet its commitment and stop acting in a discriminatory manner by softening the control in real terms, which will help bilateral trade and is in line with the two parties' common interests, he added.

U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Act on January 3, with certain provisions in the bill relaxing export restrictions but banning the exporting, re-exporting or transferring of satellites to China, as well as the launching of U.S. satellites in Chinese territory.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2013)