China has announced new regulations aimed at tightening the controls over the export of missile technology.

The announcement was made hours before the US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, began talks with senior Chinese officials in Beijing.

China's export of missile technology to countries such as Pakistan and Iran, has been a major stumbling block in relations between Beijing and Washington.

Armitage (l) is building support for the war on terror

China is now hoping these new regulations will satisfy the Americans that they are serious about controlling the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Washington has welcomed the move as a "step forward" but said it would be watching to see if Beijing actually enforced the measures.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "It is an important part to have the regulations in place, it is an equally important part to see that they are enforced."

Mr Armitage, who is in Beijing to strengthen support for the war on terror and discuss regional issues such as Taiwan, has not commented on the announcement.

His visit coincides with that of Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, who is expected to discuss the threat of a US attack on Baghdad with Chinese leaders.

Stiff penalties

The full text of the regulations, pledging that China would "exercise strict control of the export of missiles and missile-related items and technologies", was published in official newspapers on Monday.

The new rules do not specifically ban the export of missile technology, but from now onwards any Chinese company wanting to do so will have to apply for permission from the state council, China's cabinet.

Failure to do so will be punished with stiff penalties.

Jiang Zemin is due to hold talks with the US president in October

But many issues in the 24-article regulations remain unclear, in particular which technologies - a list of them was referred to but not published - are restricted.

Defence analysts gave the measures a cautious welcome.

"Basically any move by the Chinese Government that brings it in line with the international norms on missile proliferation must be seen as welcome," Robert Karniol, Asia correspondent for Jane's Defence Weekly, told the AFP news agency.

"At the same time, the details of the regulations, like the control list, have not been published and it is still to early to say how effective China's implementation of the regulations will be."

Moving in the right direction

For years Washington has been demanding China set up a proper missile control regime.

Two years ago, China promised to do so, but nothing happened.

The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, reporting from Beijing, says that with the announcement of these new regulations China appears finally to be moving in that direction.

The US has previously accused China of supplying missile technology to Pakistan, Iran and North Korea - the last two both members of President Bush's "axis of evil".

It has imposed sanctions on a number of Chinese companies and banned US companies from using Chinese rockets for satellite launches.

China's President, Jiang Zemin, is preparing to hold a summit with President Bush at his ranch in Texas, this coming October.

And, our correspondent says, China is clearly hoping these new regulations will help to create the right atmosphere and make it clear that Beijing is on the US side when it comes to halting the spread of weapons of mass destruction.