Obama says US, China Must Develop Cyber Rules

{{Treading carefully, President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping avoided a direct public confrontation on cybersecurity Friday as they opened a two-day summit aimed at forging closer personal ties between the leaders of the world’s largest economies. Obama described the contentious cyber issue as “uncharted waters.”}}

Obama said he and Xi discussed cyber matters only broadly during their first round of talks, but pledged that a fuller discussion was still to come.

He said it was critical that the U.S. and China reach a “firm understanding” on cyber issues, but stopped short of accusing China of orchestrating the hacking of the American government and business computers.

“Because of the incredible advanced in technology, the issue of cybersecurity and need for rules and common approach for cybersecurity are going to be increasingly important,” Obama said during an evening news conference with Xi on the grounds of a sprawling California desert estate.

Xi, who took power in China in March, claimed no responsibility for China’s alleged actions. He said his nation was also a victim of cyber-spying, but did not assign any blame for the actions.

Hours earlier, with temperatures surging above 100 degrees, the two leaders walked together under a shaded walkway as they marked the start of their desert meetings.

Underscoring the desire for an informal summit free of the formalities that mark official state visits, Obama and Xi greeted one another in white shirts and suit coats, but no ties.

U.S. officials cast the more relaxed California summit as an opportunity for Obama and Xi to hold more candid and free-flowing talks on the myriad of issues that define the relationship between the two countries, including the economy, climate change and North Korea’s nuclear provocations.

However, it’s cyber security that has taken on increasing importance to the Obama administration in its recent talks with China.

Obama said advances in technology have created a need for clear protocols about what is and isn’t acceptable for governments to do.

{agencies}