Chinese, U.S. officials call for cooperation on Internet issues

Chinese companies have been hacking American computer systems.

BEIJING, April 11 (UPI) — China and the United States must cooperate on online security to cope with developments in cyberspace, officials of both countries said.

The two countries have common interests and responsibilities on online security, Qian Xiaoqian, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office, said at a U.S.-China Internet Industry Forum in Beijing.

Mutual trust must be established to solve problems and improve the development of the Internet between the two countries, Qian said.

China will upgrade laws involving the Internet and welcome U.S. network companies investing in the industry, he told China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency.

U.S. officials at the forum said they agreed on the need for cooperation.

Robert Hormats, U.S. undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, said the countries need to work together, adding the United States would increase the number of dialogues and the frequency of communications on thorny Internet issues with China.