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UK seeking cyber-security dialogue with China

Britain is seeking a formal process of dialogue with China on cyber-security, to address concerns over issues like hacking, industrial espionage, disruption of services and invasion of privacy.

Prime Minister David Cameron raised the issue in talks with Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang during his visit to the far eastern giant, which has long been the focus of allegations about illicit use of cyberspace.

The PM said that Britain and China should work together on making the internet function properly to drive the economy forward without undermining privacy or security.

UK Government sources said that Mr Li showed a "readiness to engage" on the issue and indicated that he would like to see more dialogue. Diplomats will now work on how to take the proposal forward into practical action.

Speaking to reporters in Shanghai, Mr Cameron said: "I think that a proper cyber dialogue between countries is necessary and I have raised this with the Chinese leadership - that we need to properly discuss these issues.

"It is an issue of mutual concern and one that we should be discussing."

Britain was already increasing its investment in cyber-defence, with around £600 million devoted to it in the strategic defence and security review, said the PM.
Mr Cameron also launched a defence of UK pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKIine, which was drawn into a bribery case in China earlier this year which resulted in police detaining four Chinese executives.

Peter Humphrey, a British man running a risk advisory group, was also detained and is still being held.

Mr Cameron said he didn't want to comment on an 'on-going case'.

But he added: "All I'll say is that from all my dealings with GSK I know that they are a very important, very decent and strong British business that is a long-term investor in China and it's a business that very much does think about the long-term development of its products and its businesses. I think it is right to raise a case like that.

"Britain has a record of properly standing up for British businesses and British individuals, raising individual cases in the right way and about having a proper dialogue with the Chinese authorities about the issues."

GSK were among more than 120 British companies joining the Prime Minister on his three-day visit to China, which has been dominated by efforts to boost trade and economic links.

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