Beijing, March 27 (IANS) China on Wednesday said it hoped that India's successful testing of an anti-satellite missile will help maintain peace in the outer space.

"We are aware of relevant reports and we hope that all countries will earnestly safeguard lasting peace and tranquility in the outer space," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India had become "a space superpower" as its anti-satellite missile successfully targeted a live satellite on a low earth orbit in just three minutes.

India became the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to shoot a low orbit satellite, joining the club of space superpowers.

Modi said the test of the weapon was not aimed at against any country.

China in 2007 achieved this feat by shooting its weather satellite.

China is an emerging superpower in the outer space. It launches scores of satellites as President Xi Jinping wants China to surge ahead of the US and Russia.

It is the only country which has landed on the far side of the moon.

--IANS gsh/mr