WASHINGTON - As one of the major Internet powers in the world, China is willing to work with the United States to advance the development of information technology and fight cyber crimes, a senior Chinese information official said.

"China and the United States have common interests and responsibilities either in promoting Internet development or in defending cyberspace security," said Qian Xiaoqian, vice-minister of the State Internet Information Office of China, during his speech at the 5th US-China Internet Industry Forum in Washington on Wednesday.

"The Internet should become a bridge for the two countries to boost mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, and also a positive factor to further the China-US relations."

He suggested the two sides should respect each other and deepen mutual understanding, promote pragmatic cooperation and fight cyber crimes and defend cyberspace security.

On important issues, such as the equitable utilization of global cyber resources, the formulation of cyberspace governance rules and the restriction on a cyberspace arm race, "the two countries should not only strengthen bilateral consultation, and also jointly play active roles within the framework of the United Nations mechanism," Qian said.

The annual forum, hosted by Microsoft Corporation and Internet Society of China since 2007, is recognized as an important platform for bilateral dialogue in the Internet field.

During the two-day event, which concluded Thursday, the participants exchanged ideas on the social responsibilities of Internet service providers, development of social networks, Internet governance and cyberspace security.

Thanks to the rapid development of the Internet, the number of Chinese users has reached more than 500 million, about 40 percent of the total population. About 350 million also use mobile Internet devices, according to China's Internet Information Office.

At the same time, e-commerce in China has developed very quickly and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 35 percent in the next five years. In 2011, annual business turnover for e-commerce is expected to exceed $1 trillion, up 50 percent from the previous year, Qian said.

He said the Chinese government regards Internet development as an important tool to enhance its technological innovation capacity and improve people's lives.

"We are working hard to build a more secure, reliable and useful cyberspace, a favorable environment for Internet technology development and innovation," he said.

"We regard intellectual property protection as an indispensable precondition for innovation."

Zhang Yesui, Chinese ambassador to the United States, said in his speech at the forum that the dialogue and cooperation in the online field is not only crucial in the development of the Internet in China and the United States, but also important to its development worldwide.

"We should respect and support each other's governance on the Internet, which is based on the different national conditions," he said.

The meeting attracted more than 180 policymakers, industry insiders and experts from both sides of the Pacific, including Baidu.com President Robin Li, Jike.com President Deng Yaping, Sohu.com CEO and Chairman Charles Zhang, Sina.com Executive Vice-President Chen Tong and officials from China's Foreign Ministry, Commerce Ministry and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The major speakers from the US included Under Secretary at the US State Department Robert Hormats, Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Julie Brill, Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission Julius Genachowski and Jim Lewis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

China Daily