China ready to work with US to implement cyber security consensus

China is ready to work with the US to carry out the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries on cyber security, a visiting senior Chinese official said Wednesday. China's State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun made the remarks during a meeting with US National Security Advisor Susan Rice. The two countries have agreed on guidelines of joint efforts to combat cyber crimes which have specified the channel and items for cooperation. They also agreed to launch more experience-sharing activities on cracking down on cyber crimes, including a desktop maneuver in spring 2016, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Bilateral cooperation will mainly target the online distribution of child pornography, business theft, online fraud and Internet-based terror planning and organizing, the MPS said. A hotline to combat cyber crimes and related issues was initiated by both sides for direct communication on major and urgent cyber crime cases and law enforcement, the MPS said, adding that the next high-level dialogue to be held in June 2016 in Beijing will further specify the hotline mechanism. Following his State visit to the US in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his US counterpart Barack Obama again on the sidelines of the Paris climate conference, with both leaders agreeing to strengthen cooperation on cyber security, Guo noted. China is ready to act following the dialogue and make cyber security cooperation a new highlight of China-US relations, Guo said. For her part, Rice said it is of vital importance to comprehensively implement the consensus. Guo left Beijing for the US on Sunday. During his stay in Washington, he also met with US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch and FBI Director James Comey. The US has repeatedly accused the Chinese government of allegedly sponsoring cyber theft of US commercial secrets to help Chinese companies gain an advantage. China has flatly rejected the charges, saying its policies and laws forbid such activities.