Q: Did Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and US Secretary of State Clinton talk about the Google issue during their meeting on the sidelines of the International Conference on Afghanistan?

A: During his meeting with Secretary of State Clinton, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi expounded on China's Internet policy, stressing that the Internet in China is open and active. The Chinese people fully enjoy the freedom of speech and have immediate access to adequate information in accordance with law, which is one of the important reasons that they firmly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Foreign Minister Yang noted that it is China's persistent policy to advance the development of the Internet. China, with its own conditions and cultural tradition, adheres to lawful management over the Internet, which is in line with the universal practice. As one of the major victims of hacking in the world, China advocates stronger international cooperation in combating hacking to protect citizens' privacy and safeguard cyber security according to law.