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'China and America can be best friends' says diplomat keen to CYBER

State Councillor Yang Jiechi puts on his robe and wizard hat for magical security collabo

China and America should be cybering together, said State Councillor Yang Jiechi in an interview about Chinese President Xi Jinping's first state visit to the US later this month.

The comments follow anonymous White House claims that the US is mulling "unprecedented" sanctions against China in response to cyber-attacks perceived to be directed from Beijing.

"China and the United States actually can make cyber security a point of cooperation between our two countries," stated Yang in an interview with the English-language China Daily that did not directly reference the threat of sanctions.

As a state councillor, Yang Jiechi sits on the Chinese central government's executive cabinet. He said that the executive hopes that "China and the United States actually can make cyber security a point of cooperation between our two countries."

Figures within the US defence apparatus have accused China of being responsible for the cyberattack on the Office of Personnel Management which managed to pilfer the very sensitive biographical information of 21.5m US Government employees.

The US government itself has also publicly accused Beijing of sponsoring intellectual property theft, while the FBI has named alleged state-backed hackers on its "most wanted" lists.

Yang made note in the interview that his nation is often a victim of cyberattacks too, and stated that suspected attacks should be investigated and handled "on a solid, factual basis". ®

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