Internet Openness

China's Internet is open and duly administered, and the country welcomes international Internet companies, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.

Jiang made this assertion at a routine news conference on January 14, just two days after Google announced its possible withdrawal from the Chinese market.

The U.S.-based online search giant said it made its decision following a series of disagreements with the Chinese Government's policies and hacker attacks on its services in China.

"The Chinese Government encourages the development of the Internet and endeavors to create a sound environment for its healthy development," she said. "Like in other countries, China administers the development of the Internet according to law."

"The measures we take," Jiang added, "are consistent with international practices."

Google was "no exception" in observing China's laws and shouldering its social responsibilities, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.

Chinese laws prohibit hacking in whatever form, Ma added.

East Asia and Latin America

China will continue to contribute to strengthened ties between East Asia and Latin America by sponsoring forums and training programs on bio-energy, small and medium-sized enterprises, finance, agriculture and culture, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Yang made the pledge in Tokyo on January 16 at the Fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

Initiated in 1999, the FEALAC is an association of 33 countries in East Asia and Latin America, regions mainly comprised of developing countries.

To promote worldwide economic recovery, more attention must be focused on the needs of developing countries, Yang said. He also called on industrial countries to honor their commitments on development assistance, trade financing and concessionary loans as soon as possible.

East Asia and Latin American nations, meanwhile, should adopt energy-saving, environmentally friendly approaches to achieve sustainable economic and social development, he added.

China and Japan

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada that China has sovereignty over the disputed Chunxiao oil and gas field in the East China Sea during recent talks.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu reiterated this stance on January 18 when responding to reporters' questions about the most recent meeting between Yang and Okada.

The foreign ministers had convened in Tokyo the day before on the sidelines of the Fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the FEALAC.

"Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi spelled out China's position on the East China Sea, and emphasized that China possesses sovereign rights over the Chunxiao oil and gas field," Ma said.

China and Japan had reached a "principled consensus" on their East China Sea territorial disputes in June 2008. As part of the consensus, the two nations designated a specific area for prospective joint development.

At the same time, they confirmed that Japanese companies could participate in the exploration of the Chunxiao oil and gas field according to Chinese laws. This, Ma said, is "different in nature from joint development."