China, US have potential to develop new type cyber relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping (front-row-center), poses for a photo with a group of CEOs and other executives at Microsoft's main campus in Redmond, Washington September 23, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Beijing and Washington have the potential of building a new type of cyber-relations based on the progress President Xi Jinping made during his visit to the US in September, researchers said.

Cheng Li and Ryan McElveen, respectively Senior Fellow and Director, and Assistant Director of the John L. Thornton China Center at The Brookings Institution wrote in an article titled A new type of cyber relations? that the progress made during Xi 's visit provided a crucial starting point for future dialogues.

The article was part of a report named Obama-Xi summit: What happened & what comes next in US-China relations which was published in October by the 100,000 Strong Foundation.

Xi's state visit was far more successful at defusing concerns and changing the dynamics of the relationship compared to previous meetings between Xi and Obama.

"The progress on cyber issues was especially encouraging because China and the US reached an agreement over the issue of cyber theft," the researchers said.

Xi and Obama announced in a joint news conference that both sides have agreed not to conduct or support cyber theft.

In May, the US Justice Department indicted five officers of the People's Liberation Army for alleged cyber espionage of intellectual properties from US corporationsChina denied the charges and then suspended the newly established bilateral working group on cyber security.

During Xi's visit, China and the US decided to respond in a timely manner to requests for information about malicious cyber activities, and help mitigate such actions that occur on their territory.

"While these actions may be considered small steps, they provide a crucial starting point for future dialogue," Li and McElveen wrote. "Although progress on these issues will take significant time and effort, the result will be a far more constructive political and economic US-China relationship."

Xi met with 29 entrepreneurs of the tech industry from China and the US at the Eighth US-China Internet Industry Forum at the Microsoft headquarters in Seattle for more cooperation in the field.

"As long as the two countries continue to make progress on cyber issues, the picture of President Xi alongside the leaders of tech companies will be a lasting symbol of a turning point in US-China cooperation," the article said.