China on Tuesday denied government links to cyber attacks against the search giant Google, saying such accusations were "irresponsible and calculating."

"China resolutely opposes the groundless accusations from Google," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, referring to Google's statement last month that it might pull out of the Chinese market, citing it services had been hacked by sources originating in China.

Chinese laws prohibit cyber attacks and China's government does not tolerate cyber crime, and China welcomes international Internet companies to conduct businesses in China in line with the law, Qin told a regular new briefing

"These firms have unblocked access to relevant Chinese government departments in terms of communication," said Qin, who stressed China's unchanged stance in promoting the development of the Internet.

"Foreign Internet enterprises, like foreign businesses of any other kind operating in China, shall abide by Chinese laws and respect its culture, "Qin said.

Qin also said recent accusations of two Chinese schools carrying out cyber attacks against Google did not hold water.

The New York Times has filed two reports recently claiming the cyber attacks on Google and other American firms last year have been traced to Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU) and Lanxiang Vocational School (Lanxiang) in east China's Shandong Province.

Both Lanxiang and SJTU said the report was unfounded, and denied being behind the cyber attacks on Google and other American companies.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2010)