China said that Google's threat to stop operating in the country would not affect Chinese-US trade ties, after Washington pressed for an explanation of China-based cyberattacks on the Internet giant.
However, China insisted that Google must obey its laws, after the company said it would no longer bow to the communist country's army of internet censors by filtering search results available on Google.cn.
The US firm said it could abandon its Chinese search engine, and perhaps shut its offices in the world's largest online market by users, over theft of its intellectual property.
'No matter what decision Google makes, it will not affect overall trade and economic relations between China and the US,' commerce ministry spokesman Yao Jian said.
'The two countries have multiple communication channels. We are confident in the healthy development of economic and trade relations between China and the US,' he added.
In Beijing's first official reaction to Google's threat , a foreign ministry spokeswoman insisted yesterday that China's Internet was 'open' but defended its censorship system and said foreign firms must abide by the law.
Yao echoed those remarks, saying foreign firms operating in China should 'respect the laws, public interest, culture and traditions in host countries, and take on social responsibilities accordingly'.
He said Google should make the right choice about its future, noting that China's development would benefit both the country itself and companies doing business there.
Google said the cyberattacks were likely aimed at gaining access to the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists, but has said it does not believe that goal was achieved.
The row has threatened to rattle ties between Washington and Beijing - already frayed over a number of issues, from the Copenhagen climate change debacle to the value of the Chinese yuan and a number of other trade disputes.
Google said more than 20 other unidentified firms were targeted in the 'highly sophisticated' attacks, believed to have originated in China, while other reports have put the number of companies attacked at more than 30.
